Delivering Smart Growth in the East of England
2nd-3rd July 2008, University Arms Hotel, Cambridge

The East of England is a thriving, diverse and most of all growing region. The implementation of the Government’s Sub-National Review (SNR), Planning Reform Bill, Housing Green Paper, Housing and Communities Agency and Local Government Review will all have major implications for the region.

Given this changing institutional and policy background, this two-day conference will discuss how the East of England can meet its growth targets in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way.


Key issues to be discussed:

How Government policy is improving the prospects for smart growth in the East of England
How can we ensure that the new regional responsibilities and funding mechanisms will improve the prospects for smart growth?
What does the Government want to achieve through the Planning Reform Bill?
Are the delivery vehicles in the East of England fit for purpose?
The need to live within the natural resource limits of the East of England
Ensuring low carbon growth
Managing water resources in a growing East of England
Flood risk management
Turning waste into renewable energy: Energy from Waste (EfW)
Delivering housing growth and sustainable communities in the East of England within a changing institutional structure
Combating skills deficits


Confirmed speakers:

Chairman: Michael Newey Chief Executive Broadland Housing Association and Chair RICS Shadow Management Board

Keynote addresses from Barbara Follett MP, Minister for the East of England and Labour MP for Stevenage and Tony Wright MP, Labour MP for Great Yarmonth

John Reynolds Chair East of England Regional Assembly and Councillor Cambridgeshire County Council
Tim Freathy Head of Development and Infrastructure Government Office for the East of England
Mike Crouch Director Regional Cities East and Executive Director Colchester Borough Council
Owen Dallison Researcher New Local Government Network
David Lock Chair Town and Country Planning Association
Michael Newey Chief Executive Broadland Housing Association and Chair RICS Shadow Management Board
Geoff Copley Director Faber Maunsell
Simon Bishop Easter England Projects Director English Partnership
Mitesh Dhanak Group Strategic Development Eaga
Jonathon Reynolds Sustainable Development Manager East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
John Lewis Chief Executive Milton Keynes Partnership
Steve Cox Executive Director, Strategy and Development East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
Paul Bird Head of Planning and Transportation Essex County Council
Mick McLean Head of Economics and Public Policy Sagential Ltd
John Bridge OBE Chief Executive Officer Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce
Paul Wilkinson Director, Regional Conservation Policy Wildlife Trusts (East of England) and Community Stakeholder Group EERA
Alex Plant Chief Executive Cambridgeshire Horizons
David Ralph Chief Executive Haven Gateway Partnership
Jane Rawson Regional Strategy Manager Environment Agency, Anglian Region
Ben Mitchell Partner Peter Brett Associates
Dave Brooks Director Brooks Environmental Ltd
Paul Spooner Regional Director, North West and West Midlands English Partnerships
Louise Harris Regional Design Action Manager Inspire East
Malcolm Burch Assistant Chief Executive Peterborough City Council
Karen Beckworth Partnership and Performance Director East of England Skills and Competitiveness Partnership (EESCP)

To register proceed to on-line booking or print a conference brochure for a hard copy of the registration form

Conference Structure

Waterfront realises it is not always possible to take two days out of the office and you may have interests in a particular area, so each day can be booked separately. Please indicate which day you would like to attend on the Registration Form. There is also an option for delegates to book for two days and share a place with a different delegate attending each day. This would enable your organisation to cover the whole conference and therefore all the key issues. If you would like to take advantage of this please tick the 'Share a place' box on the Registration Form and remember to list the names of each delegate.