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UK Brownfield Regeneration Summit 2026
Agenda
9:00
Registration & Networking
9:30
Welcome from Environment Analyst
9:35
Opening Remarks from the Morning Chair: Mark Graham, Director, LDA Design
9:40
State of the Market Review
Despite regulatory complexity, tension between Brownfield First policies and grey‑belt development, and delayed investment decisions slowing UK construction, especially housing, there are signs of renewed momentum heading into 2026.
This opening session will examine the key market drivers and future pipeline, supported by the latest data. A panel of business leaders will also share on‑the‑ground insights into how they are managing an uncertain yet cautiously optimistic recovery.
Data presented by Cameron Franssen, Editor and Senior Analyst, Environment Analyst
Chair: Ross Griffiths, Managing Director, Environment Analyst
Alan Hughes, Planning Director, Lichfields
Peter Howland, Managing Director, Soilfix
10:15
Bringing Forward Complex Sites
For a lot of development sites, especially large-scale or stalled sites, aligning the development's infrastructure and stakeholder needs with funding and other delivery mechanisms, whilst ensuring it does not have an adverse impact on the local environment or community is a complex picture. Local Partnerships provide support to local authorities and other public and private sector partners to help unlock sites and enable regeneration and housing growth objectives to be met.
This presentation will, using a development project case study, provide an insight into this work and the solutions being employed to bring forward a complex employment site.
Linda Raynor, Senior Director – Head of Regeneration, Local Partnerships
CASE STUDY
10:30
Unlocking the UK’s Largest City Centre Brownfield Site (York Central)
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Background to the project
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Redevelopment Challenges
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Development Aspiration
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Delivery Strategy
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Technical delivery challenges (ground risk etc)
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Current progress
Gareth Meynell, Head - Development Services, Homes England
CASE STUDY
10:55
Salford at 100: Transforming a City through Regeneration
Over the past decade, Salford has undergone a period of transformative growth, shifting from industrial decline to a thriving, modern city. This has been driven by major brownfield regeneration programmes including Greengate, Central Salford and Salford Quays. Looking ahead, this momentum is set to continue, underpinned by an ambitious vision to deliver 40,000 new homes and 40,000 new jobs by 2040.
Sarah Heslop, Strategic Lead - Regeneration, Salford City Council
CASE STUDY
11:15
HS2 – Catalysing Economic Growth through Brownfield Regeneration
Huw Edwards, Director - Stations & Placemaking, HS2
11:35
Morning Refreshments & Networking
12:00
Harnessing Sources and Mechanisms of Financing Available for Contaminated Land Redevelopment and Urban Regeneration
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Reviewing the financing sources available for de-risking sites and enabling brownfield regeneration, including Government funding, grants and tax incentives:
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which types of organisations or projects they are applicable for
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Exploring the effective use of insurance and risk management approaches to unlock complex and challenging sites
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Strategies for mobilising funding into operational delivery, what are the key obstacles and enablers?
Lindsay Whitley, Regional Programme Manager, One Public Estate, Local Government Association
Michael Eaglestone, Principal Planning Officer Central Area & Major Projects Team, Sheffield City Council
12:30
Development Case Studies: Waverley, The Advanced Manufacturing Park and Simpson Park
As these three developments are reaching their final stages, Michael will present a summary of the development process from the early stages; focusing on Harworth Group’s work to create and develop these sustainable places from brownfield sites and their historic land use.
The presentation will cover some of the major technical challenges and solutions on each site and how these are aligned with the ongoing process of developing a sustainable community and creating value for all stakeholders.
Michael Brown, Technical Director, Harworth Group
CASE STUDY
12:50
Achieving a Holistic Approach to Unlocking Value and Transforming Brownfield Sites
Michael’s presentation will then lead into a panel discussion exploring how taking a holistic approach and integrating a range of place-making and economic drivers into the planning and design of development projects from the outset, as well as ensuring the early engagement of all stakeholders, can transform contaminated or previously industrialised land into vibrant, sustainable spaces that benefit the environment and local communities, are more climate-resilient and influence longer-term positive change.
Chair: Chris Meakin, UK Growth Lead, Site Evaluation and Restoration, Arcadis
Mark Graham, Director, LDA Design
Michael Brown, Technical Director, Harworth Group
Ian Gardner, Head of Geotechnics, BWB Consulting
13:30
Networking Lunch
14:30
Interactive Roundtable Discussion Session
This popular interactive session enables attendees to break-out into small groups to discuss a pertinent topic of interest led by a facilitator. Attendees choose ONE topic, including:
A. Exploring the Use of Brownfield Sites for Renewable Energy Development
Brownfield sites unsuitable for other forms of development have great potential for the siting of renewables. Many site-specific features of previous industrial sites such as old mine workings for heating or good grid connections make them especially attractive for “meanwhile” or permanent development options.
This RT will explore how to maximise the potential of brownfield sites for such development as well as how large-scale regeneration projects should consider the use and placing of renewables within their masterplans
Simon Broster, Head of Development, Group Property & Utilities, Peel Ports Group
B. Unlocking the Development Potential of Brownfield Sites
What are the current challenges in brownfield redevelopment and what solutions and tools are effective in unlocking these?
Bringing together perspectives from across the development and regeneration process, this discussion will focus on how collaboration can unlock better, faster and more commercially successful outcomes.
This is an opportunity to explore how intelligent and informed planning, early risk identification and viability-led decision-making can maximise site value and accelerate delivery. The session may also examine how programme savings can be achieved through efficient remediation, streamlined approaches and strong partnership working.
C. Integrating Material Re‑Use and Earthworks / Landscape Strategies Early–On in Master Planning to Deliver Better Site and Place Outcomes
This RT will discuss how holistically defining the site for optimum reuse and ensuring early collaboration between all stakeholders and development teams can result in better planning of material re-use and earthworks / landscaping strategies to achieve a circular economy approach to delivering better place outcomes.
Liz Gray, Senior Managing Consultant Environment & Health, Ramboll
D. The Importance of a Robust and Dynamic Conceptual Model in Land Contamination Assessment
Accurate, detailed and robust conceptual site models (CSMs) are the key starting point for any remediation or development project, providing a clear characterisation of the site and enabling good decision-making.
This session will explore what constitutes a “good quality” report, the importance of updating it throughout the development process, and what Local Authorities need to see with regards to contamination and planning conditions.
Rebekah Norbury, Enforcement Officer (Contaminated Land), Cheshire East Council & Committee Member, National Contaminated Land Officer Group (NCLOG)
E. What Would a 4-Nation Soils & Stones Policy Need to Unlock Change for Brownfield Development?
The SocEnv Soils and Stones project argues for a UK‑wide, coordinated approach to soil policy that respects devolved responsibilities while improving alignment with planning policy. This RT will explore how a 4-Nation Soils & Stones Policy could unlock much needed change for brownfield development.
F. Exploring Tools and Strategies to Achieve an Integrated Approach to Land-Use Planning & Development
The publication of the government’s Land Use Framework, and the development of regional planning and spatial strategies and local nature recovery plans all contribute to better consideration of, and planning for, integrated land-use and joined-up thinking. However, there is still a lot to consider.
This RT will explore the tools that currently exist to help make better decisions about land use, and how these could be improved or built upon; who is accountable in this decision-making; and how encouraging collaborative working amongst all stakeholders will contribute to finding a progressive way forward.
Dr Andrew Innes, Senior Lecturer, Rural Economy Environment & Society, Scotland's Rural College
15:15
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
15:40
Welcome Back from the Afternoon Chair
Liz Gray, Senior Managing Consultant Environment & Health, Ramboll
16:00
Delivering Greater Manchester’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, published in September, sets out a blueprint for nature recovery across the city-region. This session will outline the approach to delivering the strategy and the important role development and regeneration can play in doing so.
Rachel Morrison, Senior Policy and Partnerships Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
CASE STUDY
Environment Agency Update: Current Issues in Land Contamination Management
Phil Whitaker, Land Contamination Manager, Nature and Place, Environment Agency
15:40
16:15
Practical Solutions for Advancing the Delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on Brownfield Sites
Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on most development sites now is mandatory, and brownfield sites present unique opportunities for achieving BNG goals, however a number of challenges still exist affecting delivery.
This session will explore the success of BNG implementation currently, the implications of proposed changes to BNG as part of wider planning reforms and explore how BNG can be effectively embedded into regeneration and development projects.
Vikki Patton, Head of Nature Positive Services, Ramboll
16:35
Achieving a Circular Economy Approach to Development to Minimise Waste, Reduce Costs & Meet Housing & Development Targets
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Reviewing relevant policy guidance and regulation affecting the classification, management and reuse of waste soil and materials on development sites
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implications of NPPF2025 and the Circular Economy Taskforce report
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update on DoWCoP 3
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next steps from the OEP project examining the risks, blockers and opportunities to implementation of the waste hierarchy
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Practical strategies for embedding materials planning and management into development design and remediation strategies from the outset:
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ensuring early engagement with all stakeholders to incorporate existing soil, demolition and excavation materials into local and master planning
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effectively identifying and classifying materials available for re-use
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Reviewing the use of tools and guidance to help with reducing waste, including:
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soil passports
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digital waste tracking
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aggregate washing and reuse and “urban quarries”
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Aligning regulation and innovation to achieve effective materials management and waste minimisation
Chair: Martin Ballard, Group Head of Environment, Wates
Richard Moakes, Managing Consultant Environment & Health, Ramboll
Dan Enon, Senior Environmental Advisor, Murphy
17:10
Closing Remarks from the Chair
Close of Summit followed by a Networking Drinks Reception
