New regime aims to accelerate infrastructure planning in Wales
New regime aims to accelerate infrastructure planning in Wales
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
A new planning regime designed to speed up decisions on major infrastructure projects has come into force in Wales, as ministers step up efforts to position the country as a more competitive destination for large-scale investment.
The changes are introduced under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 and apply to significant developments such as renewable energy schemes, waste facilities, water infrastructure and major transport projects.
The new process replaces the Developments of National Significance (DNS) regime alongside other existing consenting routes, creating a single framework intended to reduce delays and provide greater certainty for developers.
Welsh Government ministers say the reforms are aimed at addressing long-standing concerns from investors about the time and complexity involved in securing planning consent for major projects.
Faster decision-making, they argue, will be key to unlocking investment in strategic sectors and supporting economic growth.
The move follows recent high-profile investment activity in Wales, including by hyperscale data centre operator Vantage.
The company, which is investing billions of pounds in new data centre capacity, has already pointed to the pace of the Welsh planning system after securing consent to develop part of the former Ford engine plant site in Bridgend earlier this year.
Speaking at the Wales Investment Summit earlier this year, First Minister Eluned Morgan MS said improving planning performance was central to the government’s economic strategy.
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “We have made real reforms to the planning process in Wales, investing more than ever so that the system works better and faster for both businesses and communities.
“When you look at the pace we’re moving at, the talent we’re growing and the partnerships we’re building, a very clear investment story emerges.
“We have all the building blocks in place, and we are ready to scale quickly – particularly when it comes to frontier sector businesses.”
The Welsh Government sees infrastructure delivery as a critical enabler for growth sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS, said: “The new process which comes into effect today is a key part of our plan to make Wales the fastest country in the UK to determine infrastructure applications.
“The reforms we are implementing will drive sustainable economic growth, deliver the infrastructure Wales needs, and create good jobs across the country.”
Guidance for developers is currently being prepared, focusing on best practice approaches to community and stakeholder consultation.
This work has been commissioned from Grasshopper Communications, a Welsh-based organisation specialising in community engagement within the planning and infrastructure sectors.
The aim is to encourage clearer communication and earlier dialogue, reducing the risk of objections later in the process.
In parallel, Planning Aid Wales has received additional funding to support communities seeking to understand the changes to the planning system.
The organisation will provide online guidance and host community events to explain how the new process works and how residents and local groups can engage with it.
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government announced nearly £9 million in funding to strengthen decision-making bodies, including Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Welsh Government’s Planning Directorate.
The funding is intended to address skills shortages and workload pressures that have contributed to delays, particularly on complex infrastructure cases requiring environmental assessment and cross-agency coordination.
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
