Welsh Government consults on 'positive planning' reform

The Welsh Government said that its 'Positive Planning' consultation document (121-page / 1MB PDF) "identifies the need for culture change, a change in attitude away from regulating development towards encouraging and supporting development".

Under the proposals in the draft Bill, a new category of 'Developments of National Significance' (DNS) is created to cover infrastructure projects of "greatest significance to Wales". The consultation paper said that the category would be likely to include significant water storage and treatment facilities, waste management installations, strategic scale energy projects and liquid natural gas storage complexes.

Any applications for DNS would be decided by Welsh Ministers rather than the local authority.

The proposals set out the provision of a national land use framework to establish a system of Strategic Development Plans (SDP). SDPs would be created in areas where there are matters of "greater than local importance", including housing land supply.

The consultation paper said that the strategic elements of local authorities' Local Development Plans, including housing, employment, transport, gypsy and traveller provision and minerals and waste should be "elevated for discussion and conclusion" in a SDP. "This will result in a consistent, effective and efficient approach, reflecting strategic priorities, with key decisions taken once rather than numerous times".

The proposals also include allowing local authorities to merge to cover larger areas and the introduction of performance reporting for planning authorities which would allow developers to submit certain planning applications direct to Welsh Ministers if an authority's performance is consistently poor.

"We want to reposition planning from regulating development to enabling appropriate development," said Welsh Housing and Regeneration Minister Carl Sargeant. "All those with an interest in planning need to up their game, whether they are applicants, statutory consultees or local planning authorities."