Draft Planning (Wales) Bill

The terms of reference for the Committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny work on the draft Planning Bill and Positive Planning Consultation Paper are:

1.   To consider recommendations from the evidence base used to inform the development of the Welsh Government’s proposals.  The evidence base includes:

·         The report of the Independent Advisory Group on planning;

·         Welsh Government commissioned research reports on aspects of the planning system;

·         Relevant Assembly Committee inquiry reports.

The Committee will also examine those recommendations that have not been included, or only appear in a modified form.

2.   To consider other emerging Welsh Government legislative proposals and the extent to which it is clear how they relate to the proposed reforms of the planning system (in particular the Environment Bill and the Future Generations Bill).

3.   To consider the recommendations of the Williams Commission report on Public Service Governance and Delivery and its implications for the proposed changes to the planning system.

4.   To consider recent changes to the planning system in England introduced by the Localism Act 2011 and recent or proposed planning changes in the other devolved administrations and the extent to which similar changes are being proposed for Wales.

5.   To consider any recommendations from the Silk Commission about planning and the devolution settlement, if they are available in time, and the extent to which the proposals in Positive Planning/Draft Planning Bill are capable of taking these on board.

The Committee will take evidence and prepare a report by the Easter recess to submit to the Welsh Government in order to influence decisions about the final content of the Planning Bill due to be introduced to the Assembly later in 2014.

Subject to agreement of the Assembly’s Business Committee, the Environment & Sustainability Committee will then be carrying out a full Stage 1: Consideration of the general principles of the Planning Bill later in 2014.

Evidence base reports:

Inquiry into Planning in Wales

Inquiry into energy policy and planning in Wales

Towards a Welsh Planning Act: Ensuring the Planning System Delivers

A New Approach to Managing Development in Wales: Towards a Welsh Planning Act

Delivery of Planning Services in Statutory Designated Landscapes in Wales

Research into the Review of the Planning Enforcement System in Wales

Research into the operation of planning committees in Wales

Evaluation of the planning permission process for housing

Public attitudes towards the planning system in Wales