Join Local Government East, our sponsor Atkins Realis, and partners to explore how devolution can help accelerate growth across the region.
The Government’s devolution agenda presents a significant opportunity to reshape how decisions are made, services are delivered, and economic growth is unlocked across the East of England. As new governance arrangements emerge and local areas take on greater responsibilities, there is a growing need to understand how devolution can be translated into tangible outcomes for communities, businesses and places.
Bringing together local government leaders, elected members, policy specialists, infrastructure experts, business representatives and national decision-makers, the event will examine the opportunities and challenges associated with delivering growth through devolved governance.
Topics will include:
- Delivering growth through devolution and strategic planning
- Infrastructure, investment and place-based growth
- How can we strengthen collaboration across the East of England?
- Creating the conditions for inward investment
- Overcoming barriers to implementation and delivery
Attendees will have the opportunity to help shape the discussion through workshops and peer-to-peer engagement, ensuring that the event focuses on the issues that matter most to those working on devolution and growth across the region.
A detailed agenda will be shared shortly.
Audience
Local government leaders, elected members, policy specialists, infrastructure experts, business representatives and national decision-makers, across the East of England.
Venue Information
The event will be taking place at Firstsite, Colchester.
Travelling to the venue:
Car:
- Firstsite does not have onsite car parking facilities but is a short walk from all Colchester’s town centre car parks, the nearest car parks are Priory Street and Britannia. To find out more about City Centre car parks | Colchester City Council.
- For accessible parking please follow the information within this link: Access and Facilities – Firstsite, Colchester, Essex
- There is good access to Colchester from all parts of the surrounding area via the A12, A120, M25 and A14. To reach the town centre by road, exit the A12 at junction 27 and follow the signs to the city centre.
- Please use the following link to view the venue on Google Maps: Firstsite – Google Maps
Park and Ride:
- If you wish to use Park and Ride please alight at the High Street stop, Firstsite is just a five-minute walk along the High Street and onto Queen Street. Find out more about Colchester’s Park and Ride here: Colchester Park & Ride | Travel Essex
Rail:
- Journey time from London Liverpool Street to Colchester is approximately 50 minutes on Greater Anglia services with trains running every hour.
- The Firstsite building is a few minutes’ walk from Colchester Town Station via Queen Street. To find out about train times to and from this station and specific directions from the station to Firstsite, please visit Trains to Firstsite | Trainline
- Please note: walking from Colchester’s mainline station takes approximately 25 minutes.
By Bike:
- Cycle racks are available outside Firstsite. Helmets and equipment can be left in the venue’s free cloakroom in the Welcome Area.
- To view the Colchester cycle map and find out more information about cycling in Colchester, please visit: Route Planning – Cycle Colchester
For further information on travelling to the venue, please select the following link: Visiting Firstsite, Free to Visit | Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JH
The full postal address for the venue is: Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, CO1 1JH. TEL: 01206 713700
If you have any queries please email events@localgoveasteng.gov.uk
Book tickets
From Planning to Delivery: Devolution and Growth in the East
8 December 2026 (10:00 - 15:00)
