Wales aims to become fastest in UK for planning decisions under sweeping new reforms
Wales aims to become fastest in UK for planning decisions under sweeping new reforms
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The Welsh Government has unveiled a bold package of reforms aimed at transforming the country into the fastest in the UK for determining planning applications, in a move expected to drive economic growth, create jobs, and deliver critical infrastructure more efficiently.
Speaking at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru Conference in Cardiff today, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, set out a comprehensive strategy to modernise the Welsh planning system, tackle resource challenges, and accelerate decision-making at all levels.
“An efficient planning system is essential for creating the homes, jobs and infrastructure Wales needs,” said Evans.
“I am determined to make Wales the fastest country in the UK to determine infrastructure applications—this ambition extends to all planning applications, recognising that this will drive economic growth across our nation.”
The reforms centre on significant investment and structural changes, including:
- £9 million in direct funding to bolster the planning capacity of Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), and the Welsh Government’s Planning Directorate.
- Introduction of new planning fee regulations by the end of 2025, representing the largest financial injection into Welsh planning services in years, with all additional revenue reinvested to enhance performance and reduce delays.
- Recruitment of two Senior Planners to support infrastructure projects in North Wales, as part of an expanded North Wales Shared Planning Service, strengthening regional planning capacity.
- Launch of a new Town Planning Bursaries scheme under the Pathways to Planning programme, with the Welsh Government funding postgraduate qualifications to address the shortage of qualified planners.
The Welsh Government is also commissioning RTPI Cymru to conduct workforce planning research to identify future skills and resource needs across the public planning sector, forming the basis of a long-term national planning workforce strategy.
Digital transformation is another key pillar of the reforms. The Centre for Digital Public Services is currently developing tools to streamline communication, enhance public engagement, and create standardised digital planning frameworks, paving the way for more transparent and user-friendly processes.
The announcement builds on several key achievements already delivered, including:
- The Infrastructure (Wales) Act, which received Royal Assent recently, creating a streamlined process for significant infrastructure projects.
- Delegation of Development of National Significance (DNS) decisions to planning inspectors, allowing major projects up to 50MW to receive determinations up to 14 weeks faster than the statutory 36-week target.
- Near-finalisation of the Planning (Wales) Bill, which will consolidate and modernise decades of fragmented legislation, ahead of formal introduction to the Senedd in September.
“These reforms represent a step change in how planning works in Wales,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
“By investing in our planning services, developing digital solutions, and growing the planning profession, we are creating a planning system that will drive sustainable economic growth, deliver the infrastructure Wales needs, and create good jobs across the country.”
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