Yorkshire Emerging Development Hotspots 2025

DAVID SHEPHERD, BRADFORD COUNCIL | David oversees regeneration, transport, planning, highways, economic development, communities, sports, and culture at Bradford Council. David has a proven track-record in economic development and the delivery of transformational, nationally significant infrastructure and regeneration projects.

KATH WYNNE HAGUE, HULL CITY COUNCIL | Since 2007, Kath has worked within local government, leading transformation and systems change, working across cultural development including cultural capital development, engagement and education, visitor economy, inclusive growth strategies for
creative industries and events management.

GARRY TAYLOR, CITY OF YORK COUNCIL | Garry leads York’s City Development directorate, driving forward strategic regeneration initiatives, inward investment, and sustainable growth to ensure York remains a thriving and inclusive city. He has over 25 years of extensive experience in local government, urban regeneration, and place-making in which he has overseen over £400 million in public-private capital investment programmes.

MARK MILLS, LEEDS CITY COUNCIL | Mark’s career spans over twenty years in Local Government, delivering a wide range of regeneration and real estate projects. Mark is passionate about place leadership and sustainable development and has been instrumental in the planning and delivery of many housing growth and economic development schemes which have delivered transformational change for the city, communities and residents.

SEAN MCCLEAN, SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL | Sean leads on delivering development and regeneration activity across Sheffield, including the City Council’s £400m Heart of the City programme. Sean is a member of the Sheffield Together Partnership, a collaboration with Homes England and key partners involved in Housing delivery in the City, and is responsible for the production of the Council’s Housing Growth Delivery Plan.

LEAH STUART, CIVIC ENGINEERS | Specialising in transport, traffic, movement and street design, Leah has more than 22 years’ experience in urban regeneration. She has a keen interest in the public realm and making active travel an easy and accessible choice for everyone. Currently working on multiple exciting projects at city, masterplan and plot scale, she also sits on the Design Yorkshire and Places Matter Review Panels, Chairs the Leeds Chamber of Commerce Quality Places and Spaces Group, as well sitting on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Climate, Energy & Environment Committee.

STEVE FORD, CADDICK | Steve joined Caddick Construction in 2024 and has over two decades of experience in the industry. Steve spent 12 years in main contracting before moving into a development director role for eight years. His broad expertise spans a wide spectrum of sectors including; commercial, education, major infrastructure, retail/F&B, industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as residential and heritage buildings.

JOANNA VAN DER VEEN, AECOM | Joanna has a wide range of experience creating and delivering strategic engagement strategies for complex infrastructure projects, putting people at the heart of development. Joanna specialises in complex transport schemes, with a particular focus on rail, active travel, and public transport. She is passionate about inclusivity and accessibility, and how stakeholder perspectives can be used to build projects that better meet the needs of local communities.

ADRIAN SPAWFORTH, SPAWFORTHS | Adrian is a chartered architect, chartered town planner and masterplanner with over 35 years experience in residential design, planning and large scale master planning. As managing director of Spawforths, a Yorkshire based architecture, master planning and planning practice, he has been closely involved in projects ranging from new towns and large urban extensions to one off houses.

Organisations that attended this event in 2024 included Muse, Wainwrights, Barclays, Russell WBHO, Mott Macdonald, Whitbread, Hydrock, Placefirst, Caddick, Aew Architects, Marshalls, Green Earth Developments Group, Lexington, Gleeson Homes, Savills, McCarthy Stone, and many more. View last year’s event write up and gallery here.

Tickets cost £88+VAT. Local authorities and registered providers can purchase tickets at a 50% discount below.

There will be a mix of presentations and panels. Breakfast and lunch are included, providing plenty of opportunity for business development.

Book using the form below – if you can’t see the form, please contact events@placeyorkshire.co.uk.

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