The RIBA will be at all three political party conferences this year. The conferences this year will be the last before a general election and will therefore be a frenzy of activity focus of our activities was a diverse set of fringe events.

We will be hosting a fringe event at each conference as part of the Urban Hub http://www.urban-hub.org/|.

The Rise of the YIMBY: can Government policies make development more attractive?

Across the UK, local politicians are too often elected on an anti-development ticket. When it comes to engaging the community, it often only appears to be to stop new housing or other development that rouses local interest.

But could it be possible for Government to actually incentivise locally-led development to make it attractive enough to be supported and even encouraged by local communities? This debate will focus around the role of the planning system and how it engages with local democracy, whether development taxation could be a positive tool both nationally and locally, and what kind of incentivised development could make our communities more attractive and sustainable places.

Could planning be a positive process that enables communities to shape their local environment, rather than a system which too often promotes the banal and causes local frustration?

 

Liberal Democrat conference

6.15-7.15pm, Tuesday 22nd September, Trouville Hotel, Bournemouth

Speakers will include:
Dan Rogerson MP (Shadow Communities & Local Government Minister)
Dr Tim Leunig (Reader in Economic History, LSE)
Cllr John Shipley (Leader, Newcastle City Council)
Chair: Dermot Finch (Director, Centre for Cities)

 

Labour conference

6pm-7pm, Tuesday 29th September, Hotel Du Vin, Brighton

Speakers will include:

Nick Raynsford MP 
Ruth Reed (President Elect, RIBA)
Cllr Sir Jeremy Beecham (Vice-Chair, LGA & Leader, LGA Labour Group)
Dr Tristram Hunt (Lecturer in History, Queen Mary, University of London)
Imtiaz Farookhi (Chief Executive, NHBC)

Chair: Jim Pickard (Political Correspondent, Financial Times)

 

Conservative conference

6pm-7pm, Tuesday 6th October, IoD Hub, Manchester

Speakers:
Grant Shapps MP (Shadow Minister for Housing)
Sunand Prasad (President, RIBA)
Sir Terry Farrell (Terry Farrell & Partners)
Chris Brown (Regeneration spokesperson, RICS)
Chair: Polly Toynbee (The Guardian)

All the Urban Hub events are outside of the secure zone and open to all.