Event Details
Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026
Location: Weightmans, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB
Time: 13:30 – 18:00
In partnership with
Bringing together local authorities, developers, and PropTech innovators to accelerate housing delivery in the North of England.
The UK faces a defining challenge: delivering 1.5 million new homes that are sustainable, well-designed, and connected to thriving communities. For many local authorities, housing targets have effectively doubled, creating unprecedented pressure on planning capacity, decision-making, and site identification.
Our Opportunity for PropTech report, published earlier this year with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and PUBLIC, revealed that technology could unlock up to £527 million in annual cost savings across planning and regeneration - while improving speed and transparency in housing delivery. But as the report made clear, technology alone isn’t enough.
Why Regional Collaboration Matters
Government support for digital planning and PropTech innovation continues to grow through initiatives like the MHCLG PropTech Innovation Fund, which has invested over £13 million to help local authorities pilot new digital tools. These pilots show technology can unlock new sites, assess feasibility, improve engagement with communities and ultimately enable faster and more informed decisions.
Unlocking Regional Potential: Planning, Housing & Digital Innovation in the North
Regional Context
The North West and Yorkshire are at the heart of the UK’s housing and regeneration ambitions. Greater Manchester is driving growth through its Places for Everyone plan and large-scale regeneration, while Yorkshire is accelerating delivery through city-region strategies and housing delivery partnerships.
From transforming brownfield sites to building new sustainable neighbourhoods, both regions are combining strategic planning with investment in infrastructure and innovation. Local authorities across the North West and Yorkshire are embracing data-driven approaches and digital planning to unlock land supply, streamline development, and strengthen collaboration with developers and investors. As housing demand continues to rise, these regions are well placed to demonstrate how regional coordination and technology can accelerate delivery and create more connected, affordable, and sustainable places to live.
This event will explore how digital tools and cross-sector partnerships are helping councils and industry deliver housing at scale and support long-term regional prosperity.
Who Should Attend
This is an invite-only event for senior local authority leaders and digital leaders involved in housing delivery and digital transformation, housing developers and associations, investors and innovators addressing planning and housing delivery challenges.
What Can You Expect
This half-day, CPD-accredited event is designed around one shared goal: to deliver more homes, faster, by aligning people, policy, and technology
- Gain regional insight into planning and housing delivery challenges.
- Learn from peer case studies and proven PropTech solutions.
- Participate in collaborative roundtables to shape practical next steps.
- Align with national housing and planning reform goals.
Agenda
13:30 – Arrival & Lunch
14:15 – Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speakers: Sammy Pahal, Managing Director, UKPA, Joanna Averley, Chief Planner, MHCLG, Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement and Innovation, MHCLG, and Bethan McCaw, Interim Delivery Team Director, GMCA
14:35 – Regional Leaders Panel
Open, perspective-led discussion on planning and housing delivery in the North.
Panel: Lucy Woodbine, Senior Principal Planning and Housing Research, GMCA, Phil Mayall, Managing Director, Muse, Ben Townsend, New Business Director NW, L&Q, and John Gregory, Partner, Weightmans
15:20 – Innovation Case Studies
This session will showcase four real-world examples of PropTech adoption that demonstrate measurable impact in planning, development, and housing delivery. Each PropTech company will present a short case study highlighting the challenge, solution, and outcomes achieved.
PropTech Companies
• Digital Urban - case study with Wirral Borough Council
• PlaceChangers - case study with Gentoo Group
• SimAnalytica - case study with Thames Freeport
• LandTech - case study with Harworth Group
15:40 – Break
16:00 – Roundtables
An interactive session where participants will reflect on insights from the earlier sessions, explore key challenges around plan making and developer contributions, and discuss how better collaboration and technology can improve regional delivery.
16:50 – Wrap Up & Closing Remarks
Speakers: Sammy Pahal, Managing Director, UKPA, Jen Hankinson, Partner, Weightmans
17:00 – Networking Drinks
18:00 – Close
Take Part
Spaces are limited and attendance is by invitation only. However, if you would like to register interest and request an invitation, please complete the form.
This event is CPD accredited!
We're proud to announce that this event is CPD accredited by The CPD Group, a globally recognised body for quality professional development.
With this accreditation, you will have the opportunity to:
- Collect CPD credits - The event will offer trackable CPD credits that contribute to attendees' yearly professional development requirements. These credits serve as a tangible way for professionals to validate their participation and learning at the event.
- Receive personalised certificates - Each seminar attended and the event as a whole will earn participants a free personalised certificate. This certificate recognises their dedication to ongoing learning and professional advancement.
- Engage with high-quality content - Our events will continue to provide top-tier content through various seminars, talks and interactive sessions, enabling attendees to access cutting-edge insights and expertise in the industry.
