What steps are being taken to address the lack of detail regarding pre-application consultation requirements?
My officials have regular discussions with the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Planning Officers Society Wales about resources within the planning system, including workforce planning. We have worked with planning stakeholders to improve the skills of staff in critical areas such as ecology. For example, we have funded training on the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, so development management officers in local authorities can better support their ecologist colleagues.
Pre-application consultation requirements are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012. The legislation requires applicants to publicise applications and undertake prescribed consultation before applying for planning permission. Further detail is provided in the Pre-application Community Consultation and Pre-application Discussions guidance issued by the Welsh Government.
I met with local government cabinet members for planning on 26 September and sought an assurance from the Welsh Local Government Association that any future increase in planning fees would be retained within the planning services of each authority.
The Welsh Government’s Development Management Quarterly Survey contains data on decision making by local planning authorities, which provides a means of assessing the effectiveness of pre-application procedures.