Having attended 13 Conservative Party Conferences, including three in opposition, I've seen the party in very different political circumstances. However, this year's conference in Birmingham felt noticeably different from the previous two.
The first conference following the 2024 General Election defeat was dominated by young activists running around in campaign hats, enthusiastically backing either Robert Jenrick or Kemi Badenoch in the leadership contest. Last year's conference had a different atmosphere, with continued speculation about Badenoch's leadership and whether the party might once again be looking for a new leader.
This year, for the first time since losing power, there appeared to be a greater sense of unity and direction. While much of the political messaging was clearly focused on winning back voters on the right, particularly those attracted to Reform UK, the atmosphere was noticeably more positive. There was less discussion about internal divisions and more about what a future Conservative Government might actually do.
That said, the difference between being in government and opposition remains stark. Business attendance was still considerably lower than during the party's years in power, reflecting the reality that much of the private sector sees a Conservative return to government as a distant prospect. The conference bars, traditionally a useful barometer of political and business engagement, were certainly quieter than in government years, although they did appear noticeably busier than last year.
Planning reform back on the agenda
One of the clearest messages from the conference was the party's renewed focus on deregulation and removing perceived barriers to development. Planning was repeatedly discussed in the context of economic growth, infrastructure investment and the UK's competitiveness.
Among the proposals were plans to abolish Natural England and the Environment Agency, transferring their functions into Defra, alongside reforms intended to simplify developer contributions and reduce delays in development delivery.
While these proposals would undoubtedly generate debate about the balance between development and environmental protection, they demonstrate the direction in which Conservative planning policy is moving: a greater emphasis on speeding up decision making and reducing regulatory complexity.
Data centres, AI and infrastructure delivery
Data centres also featured in the wider conversations about Britain's economic future, particularly the relationship between artificial intelligence, energy security and infrastructure delivery.
With growing demand for AI and digital infrastructure, discussions increasingly focused on whether the UK has the energy capacity and planning framework needed to attract investment. Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie highlighted the substantial electricity requirements associated with data centres and emerging technologies, while a dedicated fringe event considered how the country could power the AI revolution.
For the development sector, this raises important questions about how planning policy can support major infrastructure investment, particularly where electricity availability, grid connections and local infrastructure requirements can present significant barriers to delivery.
The Conservatives remain some distance from returning to government, but this year's conference in Birmingham suggested a party beginning to develop a more coherent policy direction, particularly around deregulation, infrastructure and economic growth.
For those working across Planning, development and Strategic Communications, these conversations are worth following. While the political landscape may change considerably before the next General Election, the debate about how Britain delivers the homes, energy and digital infrastructure it needs is likely to remain central to the country's economic future.
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14 October 2026
