Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 November
Derby Conference Centre, Derby
Hosted by:
Headline Sponsor:
Programme Partner:
Gold Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
Welcome to the 9th annual Local Transport Summit
LTT is delighted to announce that the 2025 Local Transport Summit will be held in Derby on November 18th and 19th at the Derby Conference Centre.
The Local Transport Summit is a unique two-day residential event conducted under 'Chatham House Rules'. It provides a relaxed environment for senior figures in UK local transport to convene, exchange insights, and tackle the sector’s biggest challenges. Over the course of the Summit, attendees enjoy conference sessions, interactive roundtables, a guided walking tour, and a networking dinner, offering multiple opportunities to learn, collaborate, and build relationships. Participants include political leaders, decision-makers, transport authority strategists, system designers, and others with a stake in the future of local transport—such as providers, advisors, researchers, and activists. The event enjoys active support and engagement from the Department for Transport and other leading professional bodies.
Making the most of the new generation of Strategic Authorities
Through its Devolution White Paper, the Labour Government has pinned its hopes for ‘a decade of national renewal’ in England on a ‘devolution revolution’ – a new generation of Strategic Authorities with broad powers to deliver improved public services and an improved public realm, and foster prosperity in their areas. The promise is for “a permanent shift in power away from Whitehall… to efficient and accountable local and regional government, with local champions who understand their local places, their identity and strengths, and how to harness them”. Through its Spending Review, the Government has set out the money available to fund the new system’s first few years.
This is undoubtedly a great opportunity for the local transport sector and the transport planning profession – but nobody should underestimate the challenges the next 10 years will present. The Local Transport Summit is the profession's chance to step back and take a broader look at how we can honestly name and face up to those challenges, and gear up to solve them, so that we can support the new generation of local leaders to succeed.
Key highlights
24 hour retreat
Networking dinner
Conference
High level discussion
Walking Tour
Focus for 2025:
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Shape the Future: Discover how England's new Strategic Authorities are transforming local transport and public services.
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Learn from the Experts: Hear from government leaders, transport planners, and policy specialists on tackling the big challenges ahead.
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See it in Action: Explore the East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority's plans and Derby's role as the new Great British Railways HQ.
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Connect & Collaborate: Join interactive panels, roundtables, and networking sessions with transport leaders from across the country.
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Drive Real Change: Gain insights, strategies, and practical takeaways to help your region deliver smarter, more integrated transport solutions.
The Summit is coming to Derby in the East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority area to meet Mayor Claire Ward and her team, to see on the ground the challenges they face and hear about their plans to tackle them and improve the region. The Summit is a national event and the focus will be on discussing the lessons all areas can learn from this real-life example. And with Derby to be the headquarters of the new Great British Railways organisation, we will take the chance to hear how the rail sector aims to work with local leaders in the new structure.
Derby has a proud history as a transport hub, particularly known for its railway heritage, making it an ideal location to host this event. As the birthplace of key railway developments and soon to be home to the Great British Railways Headquarters, Derby’s rich legacy will complement the conference’s focus on the future of transport and connectivity.
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We’re delighted to welcome the LTT conference to Derby and put our region at the centre of the public transport conversation. Derby is a city with a rich transport heritage and a dynamic future, and this event offers a fantastic platform to demonstrate how the East Midlands is shaping the future of transport connectivity
Mayor Claire Ward
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)
Previous Local Transport Summits
Oxford 2016
Manchester 2017
Letchworth, Hertfordshire 2018
Bradford 2019
Brentford, West London
2021
Cardiff 2022
Sheffield 2023
Bedford 2024
About the networking dinner
Table hosts:
The networking dinner takes place on the evening of November the 18th, in the impressive Euston / Stevenson Suite at the Derby Conference Centre, Derby. The 3-course dinner and reception gives speakers, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors a unique opportunity to meet, network and catch-up in an informal and social environment. We will also be hosting an after dinner speaker soon to be announced.
A sponsored drinks reception at the bar will be open
before dinner.
Places at dinner are limited.
To attend, please ensure you have booked the conference and dinner package if you intend to attend both. The dinner price is inclusive of drinks before and during the meal. A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available.
Book early to guarantee a place at this must-attend networking experience!
The dinner opens with networking Drinks at 19:00, with guests seated for dinner at 19.30.
Programme - Tuesday 18 November
10.00
Walking tour hosted by East Midlands Combined County Authority and Derby City Council
Meeting point will be in Derby City Centre.
10:30
Walking Tour
Join us for an engaging pre-Summit walking tour hosted by the East Midlands Combined Authority and Derby City Council. This special guided visit will explore key regeneration, transport, and public realm projects shaping Derby’s future. You’ll discover how the city is connecting communities, improving sustainable travel, and revitalising its urban spaces.
Full details, including the route and featured locations, will be confirmed soon – but expect a fascinating insight into Derby’s ambitions and transformation.
12:00
Arrival, Registration and Networking Lunch
Registration with lunch served
12:45
Session 1: Understanding both the Opportunity and the Challenge
Welcome and Summit Purpose
Peter Stonham, Chairman, Landor LINKS & Simon Statham, Director, Steer
Welcome to Derby and the East Midlands Combined County Authority
13:00
Opening Plenary: National perspectives and big questions
Keynote: The Government's vision for local transport and strategic authorities
Conrad Bailey, Director General Public Transport and Local Group, Department for Transport
Provocations: Facing up to the challenges ahead
The challenges of delivering transport infrastructure projects
Nicola Kane, Director, Steer & Chair of Transport Planning Society
Is our planning, housing and property development system fit for purpose?
The state of English local democracy and governance
Louise Reardon, Professor of Governance and Public Policy, University of Birmingham
The gathering storm: Reflections from Future 2050
Will devolution bring on the revolution?
Monta Drozdova, Policy and Research Advisor, UTG
Panel discussion
With all provocation speakers
14:30
Networking break
Tea and coffee served
15:00
Session 2: Showcasing the East Midlands
This session will explore how the East Midlands is shaping the future of transport and connectivity and how the regional impacts integrated with national priorities. Speakers and panellists will share early insights and perspectives on these initiatives, with the full programme to be confirmed soon.
16:30
Networking break
Tea and coffee served
17:00
Session 3: Panel of Elected Members
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How transport professionals can best support councillors to deliver adopted plans and political commitments (clear options, risks, costs, timelines).
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A joint learning relationship: how officers and councillors build trust, share evidence, and co‑own decisions.
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Real‑world challenges councillors face (funding, statutory duties, public opposition, media scrutiny, legal constraints) — and what has helped them overcome these.
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Turning strategy into delivery: aligning Local Transport Plans, Bus Service Improvement Plans and active travel schemes with place‑based priorities.
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Political cycles and programme continuity: protecting delivery through elections and leadership changes.
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Resident engagement: designing processes that listen well and avoid polarisation while meeting statutory consultation duties.
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Using evidence: how data, trials and monitoring help councillors defend decisions and refine schemes.
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Partnership working with combined authorities, adjacent highway authorities and operators.
18:00
Breakout Roundtable Discussions
The Growth Equation: Balancing Economic, Social and Environmental Goals
The government has placed growth at the heart of its agenda – but can transport policy, planning and investment deliver social inclusion, health and net zero outcomes alongside it? This session invites delegates to explore the opportunities and trade-offs at the intersections between growth and wider societal goals.
Each roundtable will focus on a key intersection, working through desired outcomes, issues and challenges, before prioritising two interventions from a longlist that could deliver progress on both fronts. Categories for solutions may include funding reform, policy change, collaborative partnerships, or improved communication and storytelling.
Delegates will be asked their preferred roundtable on booking and be provided with a briefing pack prior to the conference.
Intersection 1 - Growth and Social Inclusion
How, through transport infrastructure, funding and policy can we ensure that the push for growth doesn’t leave anyone behind?
Intersection 2: Growth and Health
Can we ensure that integrating wider outcomes into our plans for growth supports more active lifestyles?
Intersection 3: Growth and Net Zero
While growth adds to carbon emissions, most come from activity that already exists. Our approach to accommodating growth into Net Zero goals must therefore go beyond what’s new and address the bigger challenge: how do we decarbonise the whole system while enabling growth?
Delegates will be encouraged to share practical examples, identify risks and opportunities, and consider the trade-offs inherent in pursuing multiple goals. The aim: to shape transport strategies that drive prosperity while embedding resilience, equity and wellbeing into local and regional decision-making.
19:00
Networking Drinks Reception
19:45
Networking Dinner
21:00
After-dinner Guest Speaker
21:30
Day 1 close
Programme - Wednesday 19 November
09:00
Registration
Tea and coffee served
09:30
Reflections on day 1
Summary of discussions from day 1 and thought starter for the day
Neil Chadwick, Director, Steer
09:45
Session 1: Strategy, Delivery and Integration
Keynote: The DfT's Integrated National Transport Strategy / recent or forthcoming government guidance
10:00
Devolution in Practice
This session will explore the challenges and opportunities facing MCAs at different stages of their devolution journey, offering an insight and lessons for building a Strategic Authority ready for successful delivery.
11:15
Networking break
Tea and coffee served
11:45
Integrating Transport, Planning & Vision
How to move from ambition to strategy to delivery, aligning national, regional, and local objectives.
12:45
Closing Remarks and Panel
What have we learned and where do we go next?
13:30
Summing up and event close
Published programme subject to change
Speakers
PETER STONHAM
Editorial Director and Chairman
Local Transport Today
NICOLA KANE
Director
Steer
Chair
Transport Planning Society
CONRAD BAILEY
Director General Public Transport and Local Group
Department for Transport
SIMON STATHAM
Director
Steer
LOUISE REARDON
Professor of Governance and Public Policy
University of Birmingham
MONTA DROZDOVA
Policy and Research Advisor
Urban Transport Group
NEIL CHADWICK
Director
Steer
Sponsorship, Partnership & Evening Dinner Table Hosting
For sponsorship, partnership and evening dinner table hosting enquiries please contact Jason Conboy on: 020 7091 7895 or email him here.