Getting the Balance right between Dorset’s Housing, Nature & Countryside

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Dorset’s landscapes, waterways and biodiversity have suffered serious losses in the last 80 years and remain at risk from unrealistic housing targets and unconstrained development. Please come and join us to find out what can be done to protect and improve Dorset’s precious landscapes and valued environment. Please share the event with colleagues.

How do we move from policy aims and promises to real environmental outcomes on the ground?

The conference aims to:

• Increase awareness and provide clarity and leadership ahead of the next round of Local Plans and major housing allocations
• Make attendees aware that nature and Dorset’s countryside are critically under threat
• Explore how local authorities, wildlife bodies, and communities can collaborate to secure better results
• Explore how a balance between nature recovery and development can be achieved under the planning system
• Look at the role CPRE can play in scrutiny, community engagement, and positive proposals

Caring for nature supports the wellbeing of everyone, now and in future generations.

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The conference will be opened by our President, former BBC Chief News Correspondent, Kate Adie.

Roger Mortlock, who joined National CPRE as Chief Executive in May 2023, is chairing the conference. He joined following 10 years as Chief Executive of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, and leadership roles at the Soil Association and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is passionate about a more sustainable future for rural England and CPRE’s role in finding solutions which make the best use of our land and safeguard our countryside.

Speakers include:

• Imogen Davenport, Conservation Director, Dorset Wildlife Trust
• Professor Malcolm Tait (Professor of Planning at the University of Sheffield) & Dr Kiera Chapman (Co-Investigator, Faculty of English, University of Oxford), part of research team working on the Planning for Nature project
• Matt Wheeldon, Director, Wessex Water
• Maria Grant, Associate Landscape Planner, LUC (Land Use Consultants)
• Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council
• Cllr Millie Earl, Leader of BCP Council

Programme & Timetable – updated presentation titles 29/05/2026

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Speakers Bios

Matt Wheeldon
Matt is a chartered civil engineer with over 30 years of experience working in water and wastewater in the UK and overseas. He is a strong advocate for policy/legislation and regulation that harnesses and mimics nature and follows source-control principles. He has worked extensively with politicians, national and local Government and environmental organisations to bring a common-sense and sustainable approach, via simple language and examples, for water management in both new and existing development so mankind can tread more lightly on planet earth.

Maria Grant
Maria is an Associate Landscape Planner at LUC, based in Bristol. With over 10 years of experience in landscape practice, she has contributed to several award-winning projects, recognised by the Landscape Institute. She has also supported a range of research commissions for Natural England, including work to update the LCA approach and on identifying locally valued landscapes. Maria has extensive experience producing landscape evidence, particularly for the Dorset area, including landscape character assessments and studies on landscape and heritage sensitivity to housing and renewable development. She has also contributed to Green Belt assessments in the area.

LUC is an award-winning, employee-owned environmental consultancy, celebrating its 60th year of delivering better outcomes for nature, people, and places. Its multidisciplinary teams work across planning, landscape, design, ecology, and geospatial services to address complex land-use challenges and support climate resilience and nature recovery across the UK.