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UK Brownfield Regeneration Summit

Delivering Better Outcomes for Brownfield Sites 

UK Brownfield Regeneration Summit 2025
Agenda

9:00
Registration & Networking
9:30
Welcome from Environment Analyst
9:35
Opening Remarks from the Chair
 

Ian Evans, UK Solution Lead - Site Evaluation and Restoration, Arcadis

9:40
Regulatory & Policy Review: Enabling Economic Growth whilst Protecting the Environment
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The current Government has set ambitious housing targets with Brownfield first as a central policy driver and there are a number of different policies and regulations underpinning this. However there is widespread frustration within the sector that these policies don’t interact and complement as they should do thus leading to delays, and in some instances, cancellation of development projects. 

 

This panel will bring together regulators and policy decision-makers to discuss the obstacles to, and opportunities arising from, achieving the key objectives of current policies affecting the development of brownfield land and explore how these can be better coordinated to move forward more effectively.

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  • Assessing the current interactions between different brownfield development policies and regulations and how they could be better joined-up:

    • solutions for streamlining and de-risking brownfield development to speed up the permitting and planning process 

    • improving communications at policy and site-level

    • finding the right balance between delivering housing targets and ensuring the appropriate safe-guarding is in place for contamination and nature 

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  • Evaluating how to enable a site-specific risk-based approach that facilitates sustainable development 

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  • Leveraging the potential of multi-agency teams and wider stakeholder collaboration to effectively navigate the regulatory landscape

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  • Exploring to what extent the construction and development sector can influence this change  

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Chair: Darren Beriro, Principal Geoscientist, British Geological Survey & Chair, National Brownfield Forum

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Darren Watson, Principal Environmental Analyst, Insights Team, The Office for Environmental Protection

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Phil Mason, Environmental Consultant, Salford City Council and Committee Member, National Contaminated Land Officers Group (NCLOG)

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Angela Haslam, Senior Advisor, National Land & Contamination Management Team, Environment Agency


Theresa Cory, Senior Advisor, Environment & Business Land Contamination Team, Environment Agency

10:25
Morning Refreshments & Networking​​
10:55
Purpose-Driven Development: “Unlocking” Challenging Sites & Maximising Land Value
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Site restoration is not just about “cleaning-up” a contaminated site. Achieving a holistic approach that integrates social value and biodiversity as economic drivers into development projects from the outset, can help develop smaller or more challenging sites, support multiple community and sustainability goals and influence longer-term change. 

 

  • Identifying the key drivers for, and barriers to, choosing a site for development:

    • managing the challenges of land availability (size, location)

    • improving early coordination and prioritisation of objectives

    • ensuring a risk-based, site-specific approach to the remedial strategy

    • navigating environmental permitting regulations to accelerate site development and delivery

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  • Leveraging early stakeholder engagement and collaboration to improve delivery success:

    • involving and empowering communities in transforming their space 

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  • Finding ways to increase the value of a site as an asset for all involved:

    • conducting appropriate due diligence to increase investor and insurer confidence 

    • optimising the potential of smaller sites (for eg renewables development or EV charging) 

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  • Harnessing sources and mechanisms of financing available for contaminated land redevelopment and urban regeneration 

 

Chair: Ian Evans, UK Solution Lead - Site Evaluation and Restoration, Arcadis

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Michael Brown, Technical Director, Harworth Group

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Andrew Clark, Specialist Geotechnical Engineer,  Land Quality Service, NHBC

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Gareth Meynell, Head, Development Services, Homes England

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Prof Chaminda Pathirage, Director, National Brownfield Institute

11:40
Optimising Your Regeneration Strategy with Activated Carbon
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Puragen partners with brownfield site specialists to accelerate land restoration and remediation through advanced activated carbon solutions. With a proven record of delivering high-performance filtration systems, Puragen enables the removal of a wide range of contaminants from soil and groundwater, including the effective treatment, removal, and complete destruction of PFAS.

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This presentation explores real-world regeneration projects that demonstrate how optimised contaminant removal and customised regeneration strategies can elevate operational performance and drive sustainability.

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Through compelling case studies, you’ll discover how Puragen’s flexible, modular, and scalable systems, engineered to meet site-specific contaminant profiles, can enhance remediation efficiency, reduce project costs, and deliver outstanding environmental outcomes.

 

David Reay, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Puragen

12:00
Networking Lunch
13:00
Optimising Site Characterisation & Restoration through Joined-Up Data Collection and Management Analysis Strategies
 

This session will discuss best practice in on-site data collection, analysis and management to ensure the provision of robust, accurate and measurable data that can inform effective decision-making.  

 

  • Effective approaches to data collection to understand, assess and prioritise sites

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  • Leveraging field screening data to direct sample collection meant for laboratory analysis

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  • Managing the plethora of data from different sources in different formats

    • to what extent can you effectively cross-reference different methods and data standards?

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  • Creating a digital planning directory, bringing together tools and resources to facilitate planning and site development 

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  • From messy sites to smart decisions: Using AI and joined-up data to unlock brownfield potential â€‹

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Chair: Ian Evans, UK Solution Lead - Site Evaluation and Restoration, Arcadis

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Craig Cox, Principal Scientist, Cox-Colvin & Associates

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Joran Mendel, Senior Director - Data Analytics, Local Partnerships

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Matt Wright, Senior Consultant, Ramboll UK

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Nigel Moore, Lecturer, Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton & National Brownfield Institute 

13:50
Maximising Nature & Biodiversity Net Gain in Site Remediation and Restoration
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  • Identifying solutions for embedding BNG into regeneration projects:

    • assessing the latest rules and application challenges - alternative strategies for different stakeholder organisations

    • ensuring compliant application within and across multiple sites and to smaller sites

    • what support is available to achieve targets?

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  • Considering historical land use maps and potential contamination when off-setting BNG

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  • Maximising the protection of SSSIs as a cornerstone of landscape recovery and nature improvement

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  • Leveraging partnerships and collaborative relationships to advance delivery of BNG on brownfield sites

 

Chair: Laura Doanova, Policy Executive, Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE)

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Simon Towers, Co-Chairman, Green Earth Developments Group

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David Hackett, Co-Founder & Chairman, Biora Nature Tech

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Charlotte Grant, Ecology Business Partner, Keepmoat

14:35
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking​
15:00
Achieving the Sustainable Management of Soils
 

With an increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change, soil health plays a critical role in climate resilience and adaptation strategies, enabling improved water retention and carbon sequestration and strengthening ecosystems. This panel will explore how improved soil resource management can play a pivotal role in sustainable land development.

    

  • Defining and classifying urban soil resources: their physical nature and functionality, as well as contributions to the urban environment, health and wellbeing

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  • Developing appropriate soil practices to support biodiversity gains, nature recovery, sustainable drainage and wider sustainability goals 

    • National and local strategies for managing soil through effective land use, targeted planning policy, financial incentives and resource management options.

    • smarter soil resource assessment, management for re-use or recovery, and as a last resort, better waste classification for disposals 

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  • Assessing the impact of contamination (especially emerging issues; microplastics, PFAS, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals etc) in soils and how do you remediate these or manage options for reuse

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  • Identifying the key barriers to the sustainable reuse of soils and how these can be overcome: 

    • examples of soils as part of a circular economy in Europe, and options for the UK (the Defra EIP)

    • assessing if it is happening already or what is hindering further development of science, good practice and effective management

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Chair: Prof John Quinton, Professor of Soil Science, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University

 

Liz Gray, Senior Managing Consultant & Environment & Health UK CERM Lead, Ramboll UK 

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Jonathan Atkinson, Technical Director, CL:AIRE and IES member and representation on SocEnv Soil and Stones

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Martin Ballard, Group Head of Environment, Wates Group and SocEnv Soil and Stones Chair​

15:45
Assessing the Implications of Grey Belt Development to Meet Housing Targets
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  • Defining a clear definition and pathway for grey belt development that does not erode the green belt:

    • proving robust qualifying criteria and how it demonstrates a development “need”

    • identifying individual sites and land packages that can encourage the re-use of derelict and other urban land

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  • Evaluating how use of the grey belt might impact on brownfield development if it is seen as “easier” to develop

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  • Exploring what changes are needed in order for the grey belt to realistically and effectively contribute to delivering the 1.5 million homes target without undermining brownfield and green belt development aims

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Chair: Marie-Claude Hemming, Director of Policy, Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE)

 

Michael Eaglestone, Principal Planning Officer, Sheffield City Council


Linda Raynor, Director - Place, Local Partnerships

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Andrew Darbyshire, Land Director, McDermott Homes 

16:25
Closing Remarks from the Chair

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The Brownfield Regeneration Summit will be followed by the 21st annual Brownfield Awards ceremony taking place at the Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester. It brings together the brownfield community to celebrate the excellent work undertaken to investigate, remediate and develop brownfield sites. 
 
Tables are almost sold out. To book a place at the ceremony please get in touch.
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