Post-election: What’s next for Wales’s planning system?

Olivia Gibson is Policy and Data Analyst and Kirsty Fox Hay is Public Affairs Officer both at the RTPI.

Last week, Wales went to the polls to elect 96 members of the newly expanded Senedd, which saw some historic changes with Plaid Cymru winning 43 seats, Reform UK getting 34 and Labour in third for the first time with 9 seats. As the dust settles on this, and the Scottish Parliament and English local elections, RTPI Cymru will be analysing what the results mean for the Welsh planning system.

With no party having secured the 49 seats required to form a majority under the new voting system, it’s still unclear at this stage what the composition of the new Welsh Government will be. However, early indications are that Plaid Cymru will form a minority government. Whether a minority government ruling with agreement from others, or a new multi-party coalition, there are some key areas outlined in our Planifesto that will need addressing to ensure a thriving planning system in Wales.

Commitment to invest

Firstly, it will be crucial for the incoming Welsh Government to commit to properly resourcing the planning system, as it is a key mechanism to create healthy, inclusive, economically and environmentally sustainable places.

Real terms net expenditure on planning in Wales has decreased by 43% between 2009 and 2024 (£21m). As we found in our public sector planning resources research published earlier this year, public sector planning services have endured prolonged budget cuts and chronic underinvestment as a result, at a time when additional duties have added to workloads. Respondents felt that these resource challenges and additional duties meant their planning services “did not have the capacity to deliver planning ambitions or strategic goals” needing to focus instead on surviving and firefighting.

Additional data from LPAs added to an updated Welsh State of the Profession report, supports this, finding that planners in the public sector were markedly more likely to report their teams lacking capacity to meet demand (72.4%) than those in the private sector (40.7%). Personal overstretch among planners was also high, with 63.8% saying they felt overstretched frequently or all the time. To ensure planners have the capacity to balance the economic, environmental, societal and cultural needs of current and future generations, it is essential for the Welsh planning system to be fully funded.it is essential for the Welsh planning system to be fully funded.

Skills and training

With the additional duties introduced over the past decade in areas like biodiversity, water management and nutrients, adequately funding the planning system also means funding training for planners so they have the skills to carry out their roles, and new duties effectively.

A significant majority of planning authorities in Wales reported needing planners with experience in a number of skills, including viability, urban design, master-planning, landscape, and minerals. Planners themselves reported skills gaps in marine planning, infrastructure and utilities, ecology and biodiversity, and energy and renewables.

Futureproofing skills was also a concern, with 50% of LPAs saying they need more people with digital and data skills. Such skills will be crucial for taking advantage of the efficiencies that technology can bring, However, while our digital planning research found a strong appetite for embracing digital tools, technical ability was uneven, and LPAs lacked capacity to engage effectively in new digital projects ().

This is why it’s vital that all planners have a strong base of digital skills and are able to build on the opportunities technology brings in order to make timely and evidence-based decisions.

Apprenticeships

Respondents to both our public sector resources and State of the Profession research raised concerns that there was not a secure enough pipeline of planners to serve Wales’s future planning needs. Wales currently has no apprenticeship schemes supported by the Welsh Government other than the Pathway to Planners scheme through the Local Government Association. While LPAs value Pathways to Planning, more opportunities are needed to ensure a robust pipeline of planners for Wales.

We found in our public sector planning resources research that just 8% of the public sector planning workforce is aged between 16 to 24, and 16% between 25 to 34. Developing planning apprenticeships and bursaries within Wales is essential to strengthen this age group within the profession. However, apprenticeships should not be age-limited, as those who enter planning from different professions bring valuable perspectives.

Apprenticeships and bursaries take time to develop, require significant investment, and would represent a long-term commitment to the future of the Welsh planning system. Given that there is potential to lose 17% of public sector planners to retirement in the next five to ten years, it is more important than ever to fortify local planning services.

Such schemes will also make pathways into planning more visible and accessible, however, with salary satisfaction lower than career progression satisfaction, LPAs must be able to offer competitive salaries. This would ensure that people from a diverse range of backgrounds are able to enter the planning profession.

At the senior level, to coordinate and champion planning, we believe that statutory chief planners are needed in every Local Authority in Wales to ensure that planning is appropriately represented in the corporate hierarchy within local government. Scotland has had statutory Chief Planning Officers since 2024, following their introduction in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. The role is intended to strengthen leadership in and corporate recognition of planning in Scottish local authorities. This call was also referenced in the Welsh Green Party manifesto where they confirmed they would appoint a statutory chief planner in every authority as part of their aim to ensure local authorities are properly resourced to deliver on housing and infrastructure.

Planners in this role in Wales would similarly sit at the top table in local authorities and strengthen decision-making by ensuring long-term spatial planning, sustainability, and place-making are consistently embedded across all policy areas.

Conclusion

While the results of the Senedd election were historic, we will have to wait for the composition of the next Welsh Government to become apparent. What we do know is that in order for Wales to have a resilient planning system where planners feel empowered to deliver positive change, is that the Welsh Government must commit to invest in planning. RTPI Cymru are committed to working with the new cohort of Senedd Members and the incoming government to act as a voice for the profession and to ensure we have a thriving Welsh planning system.