Town and country planning in Wales
Encyclopedia
Town and country planning in Wales is based on the land use planning
system which applies throughout the United Kingdom
. However, the system in Wales
has some distinctive features which have arisen because substantial responsibility for town and country planning has been devolved
to the Welsh Assembly Government
(WAG). In particular, Wales now has a Spatial Plan and Welsh Ministers have a duty to under the Government of Wales Act 2006
to promote sustainable development
.
in England.
They are supplemented by a series of topic-based Technical Advice Notes (TANs) and Minerals Technical Advice Notes (MTANs). Changes or updates to planning policy are issued in Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statements (MIPPs). Circular letters provide advice and guidance on specific topics.
An update to the Wales Spatial Plan, People, Places, Futures, was published for consultation in early 2008. It sets a vision for how each part of Wales should develop economically, socially and environmentally over the next 20 years and will guide the way the Assembly Government spends its money over the coming years.
There are six spatial plan areas to represent regional perspectives in Wales. Each area group is chaired by a cabinent minister. The areas are:
, each unitary authority in Wales is required to prepare a local development plan (LDP) for its area. These will replace the previous unitary development plans (UDPs), and will become the sole development plans for each council and National Park
. Authorities in Wales must have regard to WAG planning policy documents, including the Wales Spatial Plan, in preparing LDPs. Unlike the LDF arrangement in England, the LDP will be a single document, setting out strategy as well as site-specific and development control policies.
Land use planning
Land-use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy encompassing various disciplines which seek to order and regulate land use in an efficient and ethical way, thus preventing land-use conflicts. Governments use land-use planning to manage the development of land within their...
system which applies throughout the United Kingdom
Town and country planning in the United Kingdom
Town and Country Planning is the land use planning system governments use to balance economic development and environmental quality. Each country of the United Kingdom has its own planning system that is responsible for town and country planning devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the...
. However, the system in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
has some distinctive features which have arisen because substantial responsibility for town and country planning has been devolved
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
to the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
(WAG). In particular, Wales now has a Spatial Plan and Welsh Ministers have a duty to under the Government of Wales Act 2006
Government of Wales Act 2006
The Government of Wales Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reforms the National Assembly for Wales and allows further powers to be granted to it more easily...
to promote sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
.
Overall planning policy in Wales
The context for planning policy in Wales is contained within two main documents, Planning Policy Wales, which provides guidance on the preparation and content of development plans and advice on development control decisions and appeals; and Minerals Planning Policy Wales, which gives guidance for the extraction of all minerals and other substances in, on or under land. Taken together with supporting documents, these cover the same broad areas as Planning Policy StatementsPlanning Policy Statements
In the United Kingdom, Planning Policy Statements are statements of the British Government's national policy and principles towards certain aspects of the town planning framework. They apply to England only...
in England.
They are supplemented by a series of topic-based Technical Advice Notes (TANs) and Minerals Technical Advice Notes (MTANs). Changes or updates to planning policy are issued in Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statements (MIPPs). Circular letters provide advice and guidance on specific topics.
Wales Spatial Plan
The Wales Spatial Plan was published by the Welsh Assembly in 2004. The Plan is in some respects similar to a Regional Spatial Strategy in England, but is less prescriptive and broader than land use planning, setting out a wider-ranging spatial vision and strategy:- Provide a clear framework for future collaborative action involving the Welsh Assembly Government and its agencies, local authorities, the private and voluntary sectors to achieve the priorities it sets out nationally and regionally
- Influence the location of expenditure by the Assembly Government and its agencies
- Influence the mix and balance of public sector delivery agencies’ programmes in different areas
- Set the context for local and community planning
- Provide a clear evidence base for the public, private and voluntary sectors develop policy and action
An update to the Wales Spatial Plan, People, Places, Futures, was published for consultation in early 2008. It sets a vision for how each part of Wales should develop economically, socially and environmentally over the next 20 years and will guide the way the Assembly Government spends its money over the coming years.
There are six spatial plan areas to represent regional perspectives in Wales. Each area group is chaired by a cabinent minister. The areas are:
- Central Wales
- North East Wales - Border and Coast
- North West Wales – Eryri a Môn
- Pembrokeshire – The Haven
- South East Wales – Capital Network
- Swansea BaySwansea Bay (region)The Swansea Bay area of Wales is located north of the sea area of Swansea Bay. The term Swansea Bay is used by the Welsh Assembly Government for policy planning purposes as well as by a number of other organisations....
– Waterfront and Western Valleys
Local Development Plans
Following the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was promoted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister...
, each unitary authority in Wales is required to prepare a local development plan (LDP) for its area. These will replace the previous unitary development plans (UDPs), and will become the sole development plans for each council and National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
. Authorities in Wales must have regard to WAG planning policy documents, including the Wales Spatial Plan, in preparing LDPs. Unlike the LDF arrangement in England, the LDP will be a single document, setting out strategy as well as site-specific and development control policies.