What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the economic impact of delayed planning decisions by local authorities?
Local Planning Authorities must make balanced decisions in the wider public interest. This includes considering the impact of proposed developments when assessed against all relevant matters. Local Planning Authorities are required by law to have regard to several such assessments.
Delays can take place for a range of reasons.
Where decisions are delayed and applicants consider this is unreasonable, they have the right to appeal to the Welsh Ministers on the grounds of non-determination.
This does not detract from the duty of Local Planning Authorities to reach such decisions in a timely and efficient manner. I have reintroduced the Planning Performance Framework. Welsh Government will resume annual reporting on the operational performance of Local Planning Authorities and other stakeholders, including the Welsh Ministers, from April 2025.
For a range of reasons, the Welsh Government does not routinely undertake an economic impact assessment for every individual decision in every individual Local Planning Authority that is experiencing a delay in determination.