A probe into planning services in Wales has published a set of recommendations to help reform the system.
The Senedd’s Public Accounts Committee set up an inquiry into the resilience of planning services, how effectively it dealt with planning applications and the community’s impact and involvement.
It found elements of the planning system are not working as they could (for example, effective involvement work with communities and enforcement work) and there is no agreement on how to address this and strengthen resilience and capacity.
They say the “status quo” was not viable given the reduction in planning officer capacity and a more regional approach is needed.
In Wales, there are 25 ‘Local Planning Authorities’, the 22 Unitary Authorities and the three National Park Authorities.
Welsh Conservatives MS Nick Ramsay, chair of the cross-party committee, said: “Our report makes a number of recommendations aimed at addressing some important issues and will help strengthen resilience in services; improving decision making; support better involvement by planners and developers with citizens and communities; and ensure planning plays its full part in safeguarding our future generations.
“These recommendations are important for all of us because planning is central to all our lives.”
They made eight recommendations to take forward.
These included:
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■ Welsh Government addressing the cuts made to planning budgets by using the Welsh Ministers’ powers to ensure Local Planning Authorities collaborate and merge to improve resilience and build capacity.
■ Welsh Government works with the Planning Officer’s Society for Wales to review the current National Performance Indicators to ensure the measures used to judge the performance and impact of Planning reflects the contribution of all agencies in the Planning system and develops new measures to better judge the impact of Planning on improving wellbeing in communities and people.
■ Welsh Government strengthens Section 106 agreements. This should include developers being required to pay a third of the agreed sum at the point planning permission is given; a third when on site development begins; and a third when the site is fully developed.
■ Welsh Government works with the Planning Officer’s Society for Wales to strengthen how developers consult with local communities before applying for larger or ‘major’ developments.
Pete Lloyd, of PLPlanning (Chartered Town Planning Consultant) , said: “The report highlights many of the problems caused by reduced resources, funding cuts and lost expertise in council planning services in recent years.
“Securing land allocations and permissions is increasingly complex, time consuming and costly where partnership is essential to add £2.2b value per year to Wales economy.
“It’s crucial, especially as we emerge from the Covid-19 Pandemic where the places we live, work and play may be different to the past, that Welsh Government don’t add to the burden.
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“It must positively and quickly address the committee’s recommendations to support well-resourced council planning services to effectively deliver the development communities need in the right places.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We thank the committee for its report which we will study. We will respond to it in due course.”