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LUC Associate Director to examine impact of revised NPPF at Regen Planning Conference

Category
News
Posted
8 January 2026

LUC heads to London this January for the Regen Planning Conference 2026. We are proud to contribute to the debate on delivering clean power and to sponsor the event’s evening dinner.

Sophie Nioche, Associate Director of Environmental Planning at LUC, joins an expert panel to discuss the practical realities of recent planning reforms.

An image promoting a panel session at the Regen Planning Conference titled "From policy to projects: Understanding the impact of the revised NPPF." The graphic features four panelists with their names, professional titles, and monochrome headshots displayed in a row: Peter Rowe (Session Chair): Development manager, onshore wind, Cubico. David Hardy: Partner, planning and infrastructure, CMS. Sophie Nioche: Associate director, environmental planning, LUC. Kirsty Lodge: Principal planner, Enso Energy Limited. The design uses a dark green background with white and lime green text. The "REGEN" logo is in the top right corner.

From policy to projects

The government’s Clean Power 2030 targets demand a massive shift in how the UK delivers energy infrastructure. The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) aims to accelerate this change, reopening the door for onshore wind and introducing new policies for the 'grey belt'. But how do these high-level policies work on the ground?

Sophie will tackle this question in the panel session: ‘From policy to projects: Understanding the impact of the revised NPPF.’

Drawing on over 15 years of experience in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for renewable energy and large-scale development, Sophie will explore:

  • What the revised NPPF means for consenting projects.
  • The root causes of local delays and refusals.
  • The systemic changes we need to create a faster, fairer planning regime.

She joins session chair Peter Rowe (Cubico Sustainable Investments) and fellow panellists David Hardy (CMS) and Kirsty Lodge (Enso Energy) for what promises to be a lively discussion on unlocking delivery.

Leading the way: Women in planning dinner

Following the daytime sessions, LUC is sponsoring the ‘Leading the way: Women in planning dinner’.

Building a renewable energy system requires diverse voices and strong networks. We are pleased to support this opportunity for women across the planning, legal, and development sectors to connect, share experiences, and reflect on the day’s discussions.

Join us in London

The planning landscape is moving fast. This conference brings together developers, consultants, and policymakers to align planning reform with the realities of the energy transition.

  • When: 27 January 2026
  • Where: Osborne Clarke, One London Wall, London

We look forward to seeing you there.

Register here

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