Managing the Environmental Impacts of UK Infrastructure Development 2016

Tuesday 21st June 2016

09.00 Registration, Refreshments & Networking

9:30 Opening remarks from the Chairman

Alan Hendry,

Director of Sustainability, Jacobs

9.40 Keynote Address: Determining Future UK Infrastructure Requirements & The Resulting Environmental Implications

• Detailing how future  infrastructure requirements will be identified and prioritised
• Exploring how environmental risks and obligations will be considered alongside this
• Outlining how the work of the IPA will interact with the NPPF and existing planning & development guidance objectives

Stephen Dance,

Head of Infrastructure Delivery, Infrastructure and Projects Authority

10.05 Identifying Key Infrastructure Project Drivers & Assessing The Impact of Policy & Legislative Changes On Future Infrastructure Delivery

• Exploring the number, type and timescales of future planned UK infrastructure projects:
  • who or what is commissioning them
  • how they will be financed
• Detailing current and future policy and legislative changes impacting development and infrastructure project delivery
  • government changes, the mayoral election and the EU referendum
  • other possible policy, funding and investment risks

Matthew Farrow,

Executive Director, The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC)

10.30 Defining The Vision Of A Northern Powerhouse & Outlining The Projects That Will Be Delivered As A Result Of Its Creation

• Defining what exactly the “Northern Powerhouse” will look like and the infrastructure and regeneration projects linked to its development
• Assessing delivery of the One North transport strategy
• Assessing the impact of devolution and more localised infrastructure management

WYG are founding members of Business North, a CBI-backed group comprising senior industry leaders from across Northern England, aiming to define and drive a way forward for the region’s economy and the Northern Powerhouse.

Marc Davies,
Director & Head of Environment, WYG

10.55 Q&A

11.05  Refreshments & Networking

Partnering & Collaboration

11.30 Effective Partnering & Collaboration Strategies To Successfully Deliver Competitive & Cost-Effective Infrastructure Projects

• Exploring the options available for partnership and other collaboration to maximise resources required for delivering major infrastructure projects
• Striking an effective balance between effective resource and best practice sharing and competitive advantage
• Maximising the benefits of early-contractor involvement
• Case study: Getting the best out of the client – contractor – consultant relationship

James Harris, ‎

Managing Director, Water & Environment, ‎Mott MacDonald

Project Spotlight: HS2

11.55 Addressing The Environmental Challenges Of Developing HS2   

• Update on HS2 development and the current status of Phase Two
• Detailing the environmental approach to developing a single route option and seeing it through Parliament  
• How we work with consultants to support the approach
• Engaging with local communities and stakeholders during the process

Davinder Hothi,

Head of Environment (Phase Two), HS2

Project Spotlight: Data Management

12:20 Unlocking The Subsurface For Improved Spatial & Infrastructure Planning – Developing Standardised Digital Data For The UK On The Subsurface

Uncertainty in ground conditions is the biggest factor to UK construction delays; the lack of awareness of available data on the subsurface means it is largely overlooked within local infrastructure and development planning.

Greater re-use of the large amount of high quality ground investigation data which exists in the UK, would reduce this uncertainty. The BGS and the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC) are working to roll-out a new UK portal of standardised digital surface data, which will collate and provide access to validated AGS digital data in the UK. Desk studies, project design, ground investigations and construction can all be based on wider data and knowledge of the subsurface – lowering project costs and financial risk, with increased certainty in ground conditions, and enabling more effective design.

This presentation will detail the work being undertaken so that there is more effective zoning of land for different types of infrastructure development, and ensuring there is greater realisation of available subsurface resources and conditions earlier in planning processes.

Diarmad Campbell,

Chief Geologist Scotland, British Geological Survey

12.45 Q&A

12.55 Lunch

Data Management

13.45 Best Practice Strategies For Managing, Accessing & Sharing Huge Volumes of Environmental & Project Data

• Exploring how data is currently provided, accessed and managed for EIA and Environmental Reports
• Ensuring effective information capture at source and integrating real-time site data with laboratory analysis and existing data records
• Techniques for improved access, use and management of data:
• • keeping data current and “live”
  • successfully linking environmental and building data
  • applying BIM to infrastructure and environmental projects
  • making technical and environmental reports accessible to a non-technical audience
  • managing both “big” and micro-data
• Harnessing new technology to better visualise and understand the scale and scope of a project
• Assessing future Government plans for data and how it will be used and mined:
• • will improved data provision and access become a condition of EIA regulations?
  • achieving innovation in data management against a backdrop of efficiency and cuts

Panellists:

Chris Jarvis,

Data Sharing Manager, Environment Agency

Robert Mell,

Principal Consultant, Environmental Resources Management

Dr Jon Blower,

Chief Technical Officer, Institute of Environmental Analytics

Project Spotlight: Crossrail 2

14.45 Refreshing the approach to EIA through incisive working, integrated assessment and innovative reporting

• Update on Crossrail 2 following NIC recommendations and a new mayor
• Responding to the challenge of burgeoning EIA data and environmental statements
• The strategy for restoring the balance of proportionality
• Innovative reporting possibilities

Nick Giesler,
Head of Environment, Crossrail 2, Transport for London

15.05 Detailing An Action Plan for Achieving Proportionate EIA in the UK

UK EIA Practice has become disproportionate, undermining its purpose of managing the environmental impacts of major infrastructure development. The causes of EIA’s problems are complex and can only be tackled with a collaborative response.

This presentation will focus on possible solutions, discussing the outcomes of  a recent UK Proportionate EIA Summit, which brought together Government, EIA consultants, developers, statutory consultees, lawyers, consenting authorities and other stakeholders to define an initial Action Plan.

Josh Fothergill,

Policy & Engagement Lead, IEMA

15.25 Q&A and short comfort break

15.40 Roundtable Discussions

An opportunity to discuss a relevant topic in a more informal, participative format. Delegates choose 1 roundtable to attend, each table will be hosted by a facilitator who will lead the discussion, encouraging optimum debate and exchange of ideas

A. Implications Of the EIA Regulations For Infrastructure & Development Projects

B. Improving Environmental Reporting For Better Stakeholder Engagement
 

C. Harnessing Technological Innovation For Better Environmental Assessment

D. Exploring Bio-Diversity Off-Setting & How It Can Work In Practice

E. Engaging Effectively With The Planning Inspectorate: New Planning Guidance & What We Expect To See In A Planning Application

Richard Turney,

Barrister, Landmark Chambers

Maeve Fryday,

Senior Manager, Ramboll Environ

Michael Bull,

Director, Arup

Dr Bill Sheate,

Technical Director, Collingwood Environmental Planning Limited

Helen Lancaster,  

Senior EIA and Land Rights Advisor, Major Applications and Plans, The Planning Inspectorate

16.35 Refreshments & Networking

Increasing Infrastructure Resilience In A Changing Climate

16.55 Managing The Impact Of Climate Change & Improving Critical Infrastructure Resilience

• Assessing the vulnerability of critical national and local infrastructure to current extreme weather and future climate change, including:
  • Utility assets and infrastructure
  • Road and rail infrastructure
  • Healthcare and education
• Describing the approach that the Environment Agency is taking to investing in flood and coastal risk management and improving the resilience of its own infrastructure:
  • Long Term Investment Scenarios and the 6 year £2.3bn investment programme
  • Mapping assets and assessing risk
  • Temporary defences and longer term solutions
• Examining how infrastructure operators are taking responsibility for current and future resilience, including wider partnership approaches to mitigate the risks associated with climate change
• Identifying solutions to mitigate risks associated with climate change

Panellists:

Tony Grayling,

Director, Sustainable Business and Development, Environment Agency

Oliver Lancaster,

Principal Environmental Engineer, Wales & West Utilities Ltd

17.40 Closing remarks from the Chairman

Close of conference followed by drinks reception till 18.30