Progress with the Planning: delivering for Wales Programme

The Planning:

delivering for Wales Programme, is now in its fourth year, and I am taking this opportunity to report progress and to set out my priorities for this year.  

As well as improving the development plan system and decision making process the Programme is also about :

 joint working across the Assembly Government and with our partners, to ensure we all deliver sustainable development through the land use planning system,
 taking account of  customers’ needs,
 encouraging the public and local groups to use planning  to improve our communities.



Progress with the Programme

Development Plans are central to delivering local authorities’ land use policies and proposals across Wales.   A key element last autumn was the commencement of the new local development plan (LDP) system and the excellent start on the new plans already made by nine local planning authorities.   LDP policy guidance in LDP Wales will be published this month and a LDP Manual will be released in the spring.  

Last year I outlined the principles for community engagement in LDPs, and allocated funds in 2005/06 to provide  Members and Officers  improved community engagement skills.   I am pleased that this investment is paying dividends as Community Involvement Schemes have been agreed, and more are coming forward for agreement.  

Good progress is also being made on Unitary Development Plans: another 3 UDPs were adopted last year and five others have gone to Public Inquiry.

Planning Policy Wales and Minerals Planning Policy Wales provide the overall policy framework for planning in Wales, underpinned by technical advice notes (TANs). Activity on technical advice continued apace in 2005:

• TAN 8 Renewable Energy - published last July, and established a clearer planning policy framework to enable Wales to meet its policy target for renewable energy.
• TAN 15 Development and Flood Risk - each local planning authority in Wales has had a discussion with Assembly Government and Environment Agency staff to clarify issues that have arisen since its publication in 2004.
• Regional Waste Plans - a Waste Mapping Geographical Information System has been developed to assist the Regional Waste Groups to define areas of search for sub-regional waste facilities. Work on the review of Regional Waste Plans by 2007 is continuing.

2006
January has seen publication of two key consultation papers:

• TAN 5 Nature Conservation and Planning – providing additional guidance on how statutory nature conservation duties should be addressed through the planning system, issued on 19 January.
• Minerals TAN on Coal, including advice on buffer zones around coal extraction operations, issued on 30 January.
I look forward to reading the responses in due course.

Other work planned this year includes:

• To complement the rollout of the LDP system across Wales, a Companion Guide to Planning Policy Wales will be issued soon.   The Guide will provide practical advice to local authorities and other stakeholders on how to use PPW when preparing LDP’s.  All documents will be available via our website at http://www.wales.gov.uk/subiplanning/index.htm, or by contacting the Planning: delivering for Wales mailbox at planningdeliveringforwales@Wales.gsi.gov.uk
• Issuing final version of TANs 1 & 2 (Joint Housing Land Availability Studies and Planning and Affordable Housing), together with the associated Housing Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement, informed by consultation undertaken in 2005.  This package will aim to maximise the quantity of affordable housing delivered through the planning system.
• On the Government’s Response to Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply, we will work closely with the UK Government on the Planning Gain Supplement, to explore the full implications and secure the best possible outcome for Wales.
• TAN 13 Tourism and TAN 16 Sport and Recreation and TAN 18 Transport will issue for consultation in the Spring.
• Later in the year we will commence on reviewing TAN 6 Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as initiating work on the TAN on Development Control (including health impact assessments).
• Our aim on the Regional Aggregates Working Parties (RAWPS) is to prepare consultation papers for the Regional Technical Statements to be published by the end of the year.

Secondary Legislation

This year we will take forward measures flowing from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, including

 regulations, subject to approval in Plenary, to increase planning application fees;
 the removal of Crown Immunity;
 measures relating to development control and a review  of the Use Classes Order to meet changing needs; and
 proposed changes to the enforcement regime, with a view to securing legislation later in the year.

Delivery

While policy and technical advice are essential, my priority is to deliver improvements for everyone using the planning system in Wales.  As key providers of planning services, I announced in March 2005 that £2 million would be available again in 20005/06 for local planning authorities, with £68,000 per authority.   I am proposing a similar allocation for LPAs in 2006/07.   Recognising the critical role of elected members, continued funding for the Member Briefing Programme is being provided, focusing on the new Local Development Plan system, Design and Planning, and Development Control.

Three Pathfinder projects are currently being funded covering:

 planning and sustainable development
 Design Guides for use by local planning authorities
 the use of s106 ‘planning agreements’.

The e-Planning agenda has been supported through funding the Planning Portal, enabling it to appoint a dedicated Account Manager for Wales. Welsh local planning authorities have been able to link to the Portal more quickly, so its benefits are available sooner for everyone using the planning service.  

I am keen to ensure the Assembly Government's Environment Strategy and commitment to sustainable development is delivered across all its activities, including through the land use planning system.  To achieve this I would like to maximise the contribution of planning in delivering development that is sustainable socially, environmentally and economically.  

A good example is the Aggregates Levy Fund, which committed £1.2 million during 2005 to over 30 projects across Wales. These were mainly in areas affected by quarrying, but they also enabled prohibition notices to be actively considered at quarry sites in Carmarthenshire, Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park.  

Another example is by improving the way we use sustainable building design, alignment and locational factors.   An organisation which is making an important contribution on this is the Design Commission for Wales.   The first Chair, Richard Parnaby, has moved to Scotland but is staying on as a Commissioner.  The Assembly Government is indebted to his contribution in making the Commission an effective organisation.   I hope to make an announcement about a new Chair shortly.

Other organisations continue to make important contributions to delivering the planning system in Wales, including :

 Planning Aid Wales, which we continue to fund, enabling it to provide an independent service for the public and to work with others to stimulate effective community involvement in the planning system.
 The Planning Inspectorate in Wales continues to earn the respect of those who engage with the planning system, and has met all targets set for it.

The Year Ahead

I am committed to supporting improvements in the delivery of the planning system and I am grateful for the continuing support of stakeholders.  But there is no room for complacency and we need to build on our improvements.

Working in partnership with local planning authorities and other key stakeholders, my priorities are to continue to provide updated policy and technical advice, supported by relevant secondary legislation.   We look to our partners to play their role in delivering the new local development plans which, in my view, are central to delivering a fair, open and transparent planning system across Wales, and to work with us in supporting continuous improvements to the delivery of that system.

We made good progress again last year, and have laid a good foundation for improvement this year.  Working with our partners I am confident that the Planning: delivering for Wales Programme will consolidate and continue to build on our achievements.