Organised by:

Place, People and Partnerships: Delivering Transport in a Devolved Nation

Wednesday 4 & Thursday 5 November
The Milner Hotel, York

Hosted by:

Headline Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Welcome to the 10th annual Local Transport Summit

LTT is delighted to announce that the 2026 Local Transport Summit
will be held in York on November 4th and 5th at The Milner Hotel.

The Local Transport Summit is the UK's leading residential retreat for senior transport professionals, policymakers, political leaders and industry partners.

Now in its tenth year, the Summit provides a unique opportunity to step away from the pressures of day-to-day delivery and take a broader view of the future of transport, place and public policy.

Held under Chatham House Rules, the Summit creates an open and trusted environment where delegates can discuss the challenges facing the sector, test ideas, challenge assumptions and learn from one another.

Across two days, attendees will take part in conference sessions, facilitated roundtable discussions, interactive workshops, a walking tour, networking reception and dinner, all designed to encourage meaningful conversations and lasting professional relationships.

The Summit attracts leaders from across local and regional government, transport authorities, central government, academia, consultancies, operators and the wider transport ecosystem.

As transport becomes increasingly central to economic growth, housing delivery, public health, climate resilience and place-making, the need for strategic thinking and collaborative leadership has never been greater.

Place, People and Partnerships

The Government's vision for integrated transport places three principles at the heart of decision making:
People, Place and Partnership.

Transport is no longer simply about moving people efficiently from A to B. Increasingly, transport is expected to support economic growth, unlock housing, improve public health, tackle climate change, strengthen communities and help create places where people want to live, work and invest.

At the same time, transport leaders face growing tensions:

Economic growth versus carbon reduction
National priorities versus local delivery
Housing growth versus transport capacity
Affordability versus financial sustainability
Speed of delivery versus public consent
Technology optimism versus behaviour change
Major infrastructure investment versus everyday reliability

The 2026 Local Transport Summit will explore how leaders can navigate these competing pressures and build transport systems that genuinely support thriving places.

Why this Summit matters

The transport sector finds itself at a pivotal moment.

England's devolution agenda is reshaping how transport decisions are made. Combined Authorities are gaining new powers and responsibilities. Government is encouraging places to develop integrated business cases and place-based investment strategies. Meanwhile, expectations around growth, housing delivery and environmental outcomes continue to increase.

Yet despite broad agreement on many objectives, delivering transport change remains difficult.

Why is it so hard to build consensus?

Why do successful international models often appear difficult to replicate in the UK?

How can leaders balance evidence, politics and public expectations?

And what kind of transport system do we actually want to create?

The Local Transport Summit exists to explore these questions openly and honestly.

Hosted by York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Few places illustrate the relationship between transport, place and economic success better than York and North Yorkshire.

Home to a growing Combined Authority, internationally recognised heritage assets, thriving visitor destinations and significant housing and economic ambitions, the region faces many of the same opportunities and challenges confronting places across the UK.

Throughout the Summit delegates will hear directly from regional leaders and explore how transport investment, planning, growth and place-making are being brought together across York and North Yorkshire.

A guided walking tour will provide delegates with an opportunity to experience the city first-hand and explore some of the opportunities and challenges facing the area.

Key highlights

24 hour retreat

Networking dinner

Conference

High level discussion

Walking Tour

Previous Local Transport Summits

Oxford 2016

Manchester 2017

Letchworth, Hertfordshire 2018

Bradford 2019

Brentford, West London
2021

Cardiff 2022

Sheffield 2023

Bedford 2024

Derby 2025

Focus for 2026

Key themes for 2026:

Delivering Transport in a Devolved Nation

How can Combined Authorities, local authorities and national government work together more effectively?

Place-Based Business Cases

Moving beyond individual schemes towards integrated investment strategies that support wider outcomes.

Housing, Growth and Infrastructure

How can transport support ambitious growth plans while maintaining quality of place?

Rural and Less Populated Areas

What does successful transport planning look like beyond major urban centres?

Leadership, Skills and Diversity

Building the workforce, leadership and organisational capacity needed for the future.

Connected and Automated Vehicles

Looking beyond the technology to understand the social, economic and human implications.

Public Confidence and Communication

How do we build trust, navigate polarisation and create support for change?

Learning from Elsewhere

What can the UK learn from international examples of funding, governance and infrastructure delivery?

Networking dinner

Continuing the Conversation

The networking dinner is an integral part of the Local Transport Summit experience.

Taking place on the evening of 4 November, the dinner brings together speakers, delegates and partners in a relaxed and informal setting, providing opportunities for conversations that simply cannot happen during a normal working day.

The evening will include a drinks reception, three-course dinner and after-dinner speaker.

Many delegates regard the networking dinner as one of the most valuable aspects of the entire Summit.

Places are limited and early booking is recommended.

Who should attend?

The Summit is designed for senior professionals with an interest in the future of transport, places and public policy, including:

Combined Authority leaders and officers
Local authority transport and planning professionals
Central government officials
Elected members and political leaders
Strategic transport bodies

Consultants and advisers
Operators and infrastructure providers
Developers and regeneration specialists
Academics and researchers
Professional bodies and think tanks

Expect to leave with:

New perspectives on the biggest challenges facing transport
Practical insights from other places and sectors
Stronger professional networks
A deeper understanding of emerging policy and funding directions
Fresh ideas to take back to your organisation
Greater confidence to tackle complex transport challenges

Celebrating ten years of the Local Transport Summit

Since its launch in 2016, the Local Transport Summit has become one of the most respected gatherings in the UK transport calendar.

Over the past decade it has brought together thousands of professionals from across the sector to discuss the issues that matter most and to help shape the future of transport policy and practice.

As we celebrate the Summit's tenth anniversary in York, we invite you to join us for two days of discussion, debate, learning and collaboration.

Because the future of transport depends on the conversations we have today.

4 November

Programme - Wednesday 4 November

10:30

Optional Walking Tour of York

Further details to follow

11.45

Registration and Networking Lunch

Registration with lunch served.