Trees and Development 2026: Putting Nature at the Heart of Urban Design and Planning
- CPD Value: This event is awarded 6 CPD Hours
| Dates | Location | Cost (ex VAT) | |
| Wed 17 Jun 2026 | University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, FK9 4LA | Standard £60 Student £40 | Book now |
Full Details
Following on from a successful 2023 conference, this one-day event will bring together the people shaping Scotland’s next generation of greener, climate resilient urban spaces. Hear the latest updates from built environment and green infrastructure experts and gain practical insights you can apply straight away.
The conference will be chaired by Karen Anderson FRSE, President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, for whom the subject is of great personal interest.
With thought-provoking talks, real world examples and a collaborative design challenge at its heart, the event is a space to learn, connect and drive meaningful change in how we create nature-rich towns and cities.
Why attend
- Scotland’s flagship event on trees, planning and urban development.
- Learn from leading experts shaping policy, design and best practice in urban forestry.
- Discover the latest thinking on biodiversity, placemaking and integrating trees into development.
- Take part in a case-led collaborative discussion to improve outcomes for trees.
- Connect and collaborate with planners, designers, engineers and decision-makers from across Scotland.
Programme
| 09:00-09:30 | Arrival, tea, coffee and pastries |
| 09:30-09:35 | Welcome and introduction to the Chair |
| 09:35-10:00 | Framing the challenge – why trees succeed or fail in development |
| 10:00-11:00 | Session One
Starting right – the brief, the site, the design team This session will explore the early stages of a 50-home housing development, highlighting how architects and planning consultants collaborate with surveyors, arboriculturists, ecologists, and landscape architects to identify site constraints and opportunities and develop a nature-led masterplan. |
| 11:00-11:30 | Break |
| 11:30-12:45 | Session Two Concept design – making the buildings, landscape and trees work together in harmony This session will examine how architects and landscape architects can collaborate to develop a landscape-led masterplan, integrating buildings, trees, and sustainable drainage. It will highlight arboricultural impact assessments, tree protection planning, and design approaches that balance development viability with long-term environmental resilience. |
| 12:45-13:45 | Lunch |
| 13:45-14:30 | Session Three
Planning-ready design without dilution This session will focus on presenting the final design to the local planning authority, highlighting landscape connectivity and the integration of trees. It will explore pre-submission discussions with planning and tree officers to ensure the proposal aligns with planning and environmental objectives. |
| 14:30-15:00 | Break |
| 15:00-16:00 | Session Four From design to reality – delivering the design intent on site This session will discuss the critical delivery stage of development, focusing on ensuring trees and green infrastructure are successfully implemented on site. It will highlight roles, responsibilities, tree protection measures, and the importance of ongoing oversight from landscape and arboricultural professionals. |
| 16:00-16:30 | What changes on Monday morning? This discussion session will reflect on the barriers to delivering successful outcomes for nature, people, and place. We’ll explores challenges such as skills capacity, resources, and enforcement within local government, and considers what national-level support may be needed to achieve planning ambitions. |
| 16:30-16:35 | Closing remarks |
| 16:35 | Conference close |
Chair
Karen Anderson FRSE – President, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
Speakers
Neil Beamsley – Head of Nature and Biodiversity, Bellway
Professor Brian Evans – Former first (and only) City Urbanist, Glasgow City Council
Des Hackett – Urban Forestry Manager, Future Woodlands Scotland
Alice Hankin – Associate Director, SLR Consulting
Max Hislop MICFor – Co-chair, Treelink, Stirling and former Director, Clyde Climate Forest
Stephen O’Malley – Chief Executive, Civic
Louise Simpson – Executive Director, Institute of Chartered Foresters
Alan Stevenson – Managing Director, Inex Works Group Ltd
Sam Stone – Director, A.S. Associates
James Treadwell – Tree Protection Officer, Fife Council
Julie Waldron – Climate Change Programme Manager at The City of Edinburgh Council
Catharine Ward-Thompson – Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Edinburgh
Pete Wharton MICFor – Director, Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants
Dr Gary Winn MICFor – Architect, Building Engineer and Arboriculturist, Arbitect
Venue and accommodation
The conference will take place at the University of Stirling. The University of Stirling’s campus is just two miles from the centre of Stirling and is served by excellent fast public transport links from Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is easily accessible by bus, foot and bike from the centre of Stirling.
There is a wide range of accommodation options available on the university campus including Stirling Court Hotel, 4* Guest Accommodation and Apartments, Rooms & Chalets.