2011 saw the first Legislative Programme for Wales launched by the Welsh Government, following a successful Referendum.
The Legislative Programme consists of the laws being developed and proposed by the Welsh Government; it comprises Assembly Bills, as well as White Papers and Draft Bills for consultation. The process for Assembly Bills is set out on the Welsh Government’s website.
This briefing provides an outline of the elements of the Programme which will be of interest to planning.
Planning (Wales) Bill
The original intention of the Welsh Government was to introduce a Bill that consolidates existing planning legislation, makes it more transparent and helps deliver economic renewal. A consolidation Planning Bill is planned, but in addition a Planning Reform Bill is also to be taken forwward. The current plan is to publish a White Paper and Planning Reform Bill later in 2013 for consultation, before it is introduced to the National Assembly for Wales.
The Welsh Government has commissioned a range of studies to provide an evidence base on which to base the White Paper, including setting up a an independent advisory group (IAG) to review the current system in Wales and consider how best to deliver planning services in the future. RTPI Cymru submitted evidence to the IAG and participated in a number of its roundtable sessions. Further details are available from the Welsh Government's website.
The Independent Advisory Group report 'Towards a Welsh Planning Act: Ensuring the Planning System Delivers' is available on the Welsh Government website. Alongside this three further reports have been commissioned by the Welsh Government:
Study into the Operation of Planning Committees in Wales
The RTPI is commissioning a study into the Operation of Planning Committees in Wales.
The Independent Advisory Group (IAG) produced its report “Towards a Welsh Planning Act: Ensuring the Planning System Delivers”. The report included a wide number of recommendations for the improvement of the planning system in Wales. Recommendation 55 of the Report advises that “An independent body is commissioned to conduct a study of the operation of Planning Committees in Wales to determine whether there is a link between efficiency and effectiveness and committee size.” Consequently the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development has invited the Royal Town Planning Institute in Wales (RTPI Cymru) to take forward the recommendation.
The deadline for the submission of proposals is 12pm (noon) Thursday 21st February 2013.
The specification for the study is available to download.
Active Travel (Wales) Bill
The Active Travel Bill will introduce a duty to provide walking and cycling paths in areas to help the people of Wales become healthier, more active and more environmentally aware.
The Welsh Government held a consultation during 2012. RTPI Cymru’s response to this is available here.
Sustainable Development (Wales) Bill
The Bill will place a duty on the Welsh Government and public bodies in Wales to embed sustainable development principles within their strategic decision making. An independent body will be established to provide advice and support in this process.
A consultation document setting out the proposals to develop and strengthen the approach to sustainable development in Wales was launched in May. RTPI Cymru’s response can be downloaded here.
In addition, the Welsh Government consulted on establishing a Single Environmental Body in Wales RTPI Cymru’s response can be seen here. The Welsh Government has announced that it will bring the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission for Wales together as one organisation. The single body will become fully operational on 1 April 2013. Professor Peter Matthews has been appointed as Chair of the new body for managing natural resources in Wales. The appointment will take effect from 1 August. An additional consultation was launched in August giving more details on creating the new Natural Resources Body for Wales.
Housing (Wales) Bill
This Bill aims to increase the supply of housing and improve housing related services and tenants’ rights in the private rented sector.
An initial consultation was held to gauge views to inform a White Paper RTPI Cymru’s response can be found here. Subsequently a White Paper consultation was published on 21 May. The majority of its content relates to housing management, but there are direct linkages with planning.
Additional consultation papers have been issued which provide more detail about some of the proposals in the White Paper
- Proposals for a Better Private Rented Sector in Wales was published on 6 July 2012 and will close on 17 August.
- Council Tax and Long term Empty Homes was published on 31 July 2012 and will close on 20 October
Heritage (Wales) Bill
This is intended to be a Bill to modernise and streamline the system of controls for the protection of historic assets. During 2012, a series of workshops and Conference have been held as an initial stage to the debate on the Bill’s content; RTPI Cymru participated in the workshops. An options appraisal is now underway and a formal consultation exercise and wider engagement on Bill proposals will follow. The Heritage Bill is scheduled to be introduced in 2014/15. Further background can be downloaded from Cadw's website.
Environment (Wales) Bill
The aim of this Bill is to provide for a more integrated management of the environment in Wales with greater environmental protection, economic and social benefits and for connected purposes.
A consultation on a Green Paper on a new approach to natural resource management in Wales was held in early 2012. RTPI Cymru’s response to this consultation can be downloaded.
This followed a consultation in 2012 on A Living Wales, the Welsh Government’s new framework for managing our environment, our countryside and our seas. The aim of a Living Wales is “to ensure that Wales has increasingly resilient and diverse ecosystems that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.”
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