'Planning Aid - Engaging with Communities'

Thursday 29th April and morning of Friday 30th April 2010
Park Inn, Cardiff City Centre

This year’s National Planning Aid Conference is being held in Cardiff. It will bring planning aid staff, volunteers and trustees together with representatives from community and voluntary groups from across the whole UK.

The focus for the conference will be on how UK planning aid services are already engaging with communities, and how we can do better in future. A friendly, relaxed environment will encourage delegates to exchange ideas, inspire, and learn from each other.

Following a ministerial address by Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, a lively programme of workshops, discussion groups and field trips will showcase best practice examples of community engagement in planning as well as inspiring community initiatives that will benefit from planning aid support.

Amongst others, workshops will include a first-hand report on the Lammas eco-village in Pembrokeshire by Paul Wimbush, one of the founders of this groundbreaking initiative. Patrick Anderson of Planning Aid for London and Cllr Lorna Campbell of the London Borough of Lambeth will examine ways to accommodate the needs of non-traditional faith communities in local planning. Ian Horsburgh of Planning Aid Wales will assemble a range of colleagues and clients to discuss how planning aid can help Gypsies and Travellers overcome planning hurdles. And delegates will explore the scope for local influence on decisions about nuclear power stations with Sue Webber and Sarah Martin of South West Planning Aid.

There will also be opportunities to discuss and develop solutions to the common challenges faced when working with planners and communities.

The conference, which will be chaired by Kelvin MacDonald of the University of Cambridge, is an invaluable opportunity for those involved in planning aid and community work throughout the UK to come together to be inspired and develop new ideas.

You can download the latest version of the conference programme here. Details of all workshops are available here.

Click here to download the conference flyer and booking form. A text-only version is available here.

Exhibition opportunities

• Corporate exhibitors: £500
• Voluntary sector exhibitors: £200
• For details call 01286 882 834