Royal Town Planning Institute

Young Planners from across the UK descended on the Leeds Armouries Museum for the Young Planners’ Conference at the weekend.

Opening remarks from Yorkshire Young Planner committee members and RTPI President Jan Bessell emphasised the need to give the next generation of planners the confidence, skills and platform to help shape places, communities and policy.

Ed Whiting, Leeds City Council Chief Executive, delivered the keynote speech, emphasising the importance of planning and a plan-led approach.

Rumaysah Khan, a recent planning graduate, shared her personal journey into the profession. Rumaysah highlighted the vital importance of creating safe, inclusive and connected communities where everyone belongs.

The conference theme of collaboration in the built environment was highlighted by Dr Saira Ali, President of the Landscape Institute, who urged delegates to be curious about other disciplines, be courageous and engage early on.

The breakout sessions varied, covering topics from celebrating Yorkshire’s cities of culture, a hybrid international session with South African planners, and material considerations of neurodiversity in planning, to infrastructure planning and balancing movement, active travel and security in busy public realms.

The afternoon study tours offered delegates an insight into some of the biggest regeneration projects around Leeds and Bradford as well as the historic village of Saltaire.

Thanks to the RTPI Yorkshire Young Planners Committee for their hard work in organising the event and to all sponsors for their generous support of the conference.

Photos courtesy of @dockstreetstudioleeds

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