How Do We Support a More Sustainable Planning Objective?; Sponsored by VU.CITY

Sustainability has long been recognised as a key topic in the planning sector but, with the recently released IPCC report, the immediacy of the global climate crisis is at the forefront of all our minds more than ever before.

The built environment contributes to around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. The sustainability agenda stretches far beyond the energy efficiency of existing and new buildings. How do we tackle the issue of carbon embodied through construction? How to we adapt to changing and increasingly extreme climatic conditions? What measures should be standardised to create net zero buildings and cities?

As an industry we must ask ourselves what role we can each play; COP 26 is around the corner and a day has been dedicated to cities and the built environment. The session will explore how different sectors of the built environment professions continue to place sustainability at the centre of their objectives and help tackle the climate emergency.

Speakers for this event include:

Nikki Webber,
Business Development Executive

Jake Attwood-Harris,
Sustainability Manager

Susan Halliwell,
Executive Director of Place

• Populo Living – Jake is an environmental designer and analyst with a background in architecture. His work has been truly interdisciplinary, from architecture, to education, engineering, masterplanning, urban design, interiors and now development with Populo Living. He is an active member of many industry groups (recently relating to his development of the HBERT tool at Hawkins\Brown) and maintains a keen interest in developing research and technologies across the field of sustainable construction.

• West Berkshire Council – Sue is Executive Director, Place at West Berkshire Council overseeing place shaping functions including planning, infrastructure, economic development, public protection and environment, creating places where people want to live and work. Sue’s current focus is on delivering the council’s zero carbon ambitions. Susan will join the session to give a West Berkshire perspective on the built environment climate challenge and to detail some of the changes delegates may see in West Berkshire in the coming years.

• VU.CITY – Nikki Webber works in Business Development in the UK for VU.CITY, concentrating on the Home Counties and the South East, including Oxford & Cambridge. Having spent 5 years with a leading global property superbrand, Nikki’s move into Proptech brought with it her passion about places, and the innovative solutions making cities and buildings smarter. She now focuses on helping professionals in the built environment use 3D visualisation to better understand their proposals in the full context of our towns & cities, and prepare for the digitisation of planning.

Our online conferences will merge our face-to-face conferences with a virtual platform – providing networking opportunities, exceptional panel discussions and debates, speaker presentations and an exhibition hall.

Here’s a little video highlighting what to expect…

And here’s a bit more information of key areas of our online events…

You’ll receive unique log-in details to join our online event via computer or phone – and you’ll be greeted with an easy navigation tool. You’ll be able to navigate to:

Main Stage

Where our ‘Programme’ will take place with excellent speakers and content. You’ll be able to get involved, asking questions and taking part in live polls.

Networking Area

Just like a real conference you’ll be able to meet and connect with new people in our forum. You can directly request to chat with someone or you can enter our ‘speed networking’ area to meet numerous new people within the industry. Get your elevator pitch ready!

Sponsor / Exhibitor Area

Meet our partners and sponsors – view what they’re all about, video chat with them and download their literature and product information.