Wales sets out its planning agenda to build on growing legislative power

Planning, 25 July 2008

The recent Wales Planning Conference highlighted the appetite for a localised focus on debate and events, reflecting the increasingly individual identity of the Welsh planning system.

While the issues facing Wales are also evident in other parts of the UK - affordable housing, pressure on rural areas and developing sustainable communities - they are being framed in a unique way. This is driven by devolution of planning to the Welsh Assembly Government.

When the Planning Bill comes into force, the assembly should take on primary legislative powers relating to the development and use of land. Greater autonomy has the potential to give Welsh planners more influence over the built environment, allowing them to come up with solutions to some of Wales's unique challenges.

Wales is principally a rural country with significant urban development concentrated in the transport corridors of the M4 in the south and the A55 in the north. Transport times are problematic, with rail or road travel taking four or five hours between Cardiff and the north. Maintaining the character and charm of rural communities while making them more accessible is one area that requires work.

The country suffers high levels of deprivation, reflected by west Wales and the valleys being classed as a European convergence area. These are formulated to provide cohesion of economies and communities following enlargement of the EU to the east. Only Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have a similar classification in the UK. Delivering economic sustainability to these communities is another big challenge.

Planning policy in Wales is influenced by the assembly's One Wales document, which sets out this administration's commitments. The two headline issues are delivering affordable housing and tackling climate change. Over recent months there has been a flurry of announcements and consultations.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Commission on Rural Housing in Wales launched its findings in June, calling for a raft of actions. One Wales commits to a target of 6,500 new affordable homes, but the commission believes that this number should be at least doubled. This was followed by the Essex report on affordable housing in Wales, which contained more than 40 suggestions for the assembly, local authorities and housing associations.

In response, the assembly has issued a consultation on sustainable development in the countryside, focusing on the provision of affordable housing for workers in rural businesses and conditions for allowing low-impact developments.

First minister Rhodri Morgan announced last week that subject to the assembly winning legislative powers on affordable housing, it intends to take action to designate areas of housing pressure where the right to buy may be suspended for a limited period.

Climate change is being targeted by environment, sustainability and housing minister Jane Davidson. Policy consultations are directed at delivering the 2011 zero carbon aspiration in advance of the current English target, devolving building regulations and the adoption of the code for sustainable homes in Wales. The assembly is strongly committed to this agenda, recognising that changes to the climate will not wait for legislation to be put in place. The minister regards the planning system as the important link in this.

This all puts pressure on planning professionals wherever they work to ensure that they are able to take forward changes to policy, particularly at the local level. RTPI Cymru intends to work with them to influence policy development and support skills development. It also regards the exchange of experience and best practice from all parts of the profession as important.

RTPI Cymru and the development management network have teamed up with the Planning Officers Society for Wales to devise a continuing professional development programme. The popularity and success of the first Wales conference also provided a barometer reading of the demand in Wales to come together as a profession. It will now become an annual event.

- Roisin Willmott is RTPI Cymru national director. She can be contacted on 029 2047 3923 or at roisin.willmott@rtpi.org.uk.