Planning (Wales) Act 2015

Planning (Wales) Act 2015

A Government Bill, introduced by Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Natural Resources. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

You can read more about the background to the Bill, and the committee’s consultation, on the National Assembly’s blog.

 

About the Bill

 

The key purposes of the Bill are to:

  • Strengthen the plan-led approach to planning. The Bill introduces a new legal framework for the Welsh Ministers to prepare a national land use plan, to be known as the National Development Framework for Wales. The framework will set out national land use priorities and infrastructure requirements for Wales.
  • Make provision for the production of Strategic Development Plans, to tackle larger-than-local cross-boundary issues, such as housing supply and areas for economic growth and regeneration.
  • Make provision for pre-application consultation, and to require local planning authorities to provide pre-application services.
  • Provide for planning applications for nationally-significant projects to be made to the Welsh Ministers. Applicants for planning permission will also be able to apply to the Welsh Ministers for planning permission where a local planning authority is deemed to be poorly performing.
  • Reform the development management system to streamline procedures, to ensure that applications are dealt with promptly, providing certainty for developers and communities.
  • Improve enforcement and appeal procedures. Changes are also made in relation to the recovery of costs for parties involved in planning cases.
  • Make changes in relation to applications to register town and village greens.

 

Current Stage

 

The Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (external website) became law in Wales on 6 July 2015 (external website).

 

Welsh Glossary (Only available in Welsh)

 

Subsequent to the Bill receiving royal assent the Welsh Government have provided a revised explanatory memorandum.

Record of Passage in the National Assembly for Wales

 

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the National Assembly for Wales.

 

Stage

Documents

 

Bill introduced: 6 October 2014


Planning (Wales) Bill, as introduced

 

Explanatory memorandum

 

Presiding Officer’s statement: 6 October 2014

 

Statements of Policy Intent

 

Keeling Schedule

 

Research Service Bill Summary

 

 


Stage 1:
Committee considerations of general principles

Public consultation. The Committee has issued a call for evidence, which closed on 7 November 2014.

 

The Committee will consider the Bill on the following date(s):

 

27 November 2014

3 December 2014

11 December 2014

14 January 2015

 

Committee Stage 1 Report

 

Minister for Natural Resources: Response to Stage 1 Report

 

 


Stage 1:
Debate in Plenary on general principles

 

A debate took place in Plenary on 10 February. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.
 

 


Financial Resolution

 

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Planning (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 10 February.

 


Stage 2:
Committee consideration of amendments

Stage 2 began on 11 February. Details of tabled amendments will be published here.

 

Stage 2 consideration will take place in Committee on 18 March 2015. The deadline for tabling amendments is five working days before the date of the meeting at which they are due to be considered.

 

Notice of Amendments: 11 February 2015

Welsh Government - Purpose and effect table: 11 February 2015

Notice of Amendments: 3 March 2015

Welsh Government – Purpose and effect table: 3 March 2015

Notice of Amendments: 5 March 2015

Welsh Government - Purpose and effect table: 5 March 2015

Notice of Amendments: 9 March 2015

Welsh Government – Purpose and effect table: 9 March 2015

Notice of Amendments: 11 March 2015

Marshalled List of Amendments: 18 March 2015

Groupings of amendments: 18 March 2015

Planning (Wales) Bill – As amended at Stage 2

Research Service: Summary of changes at Stage 2

Revised Explanatory Memorandum

 


Stage 3:
Plenary consideration of amendments

Stage 3 began on 27 March. Details of tabled amendments will be published here.

Notice of amendments: 15 April 2015*

Notice of amendments: 16 April 2015*

Notice of amendments: 17 April 2015*

Notice of amendments: 20 April 2015

Notice of amendments: 22 April 2015

Welsh Government – Purpose and effect table: 22 April 2015

Notice of amendments: 24 April 2015

Welsh Government – Purpose and effect table: 24 April 2015

Notice of amendments: 27 April 2015

Marshalled list of amendments: 5 May 2015

Groupings of amendments: 5 May 2015

Planning (Wales) Bill – As amended at Stage 3

 


Stage 4:
Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Assembly in accordance with SO 12.36 on 19 May.

Planning (Wales) Bill - As Passed

 

Planning (Wales) Bill, as passed (Crown XML)

 


Post-stage 4

 

The four week period of intimation has ended. Letters patent for the Bill have been submitted to Her Majesty The Queen for Royal Assent.

 

The Attorney General, Counsel General and Secretary of State for Wales wrote to the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly to advise that they would not be referring the Planning (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

 

 

 

Date of Royal Assent

 

 

Royal Assent was given on 6 July 2015.

 

 

 

Contact information

 

This bill has been remitted to the Environment and Sustainability Committee

 

Clerk: Alun Davidson

Phone: 0300 200 6565

Email: SeneddEnv@Assembly.Wales

 

Business type: Bill

Reason considered: Government Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 06/10/2014

Documents

Consultations