What measures are the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the pre-application process that was introduced by the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 does not become a tick box exercise, and that the comments of individuals and communities during the process are heard?
We recognise that if developers only undertake the statutory minimum pre-application consultation, the documentation requirements mean they may leave engagement until late in the design process. Pre-application consultation should be proportionate to the development size and complexity of planning impacts, so in many cases, meaningful engagement should involve more than one exercise starting earlier in the design process. The pre application best practice guidance which we have published demonstrates why and how developers can go further than the statutory minimum set out in legislation.