Draft National Development Framework
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WG40429 Welsh Government Consultation Report Draft National Development Framework September 2020 Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh. © Crown Copyright Our first national development framework will when published be called ‘Future Wales – The National Plan 2040’. This document was prepared prior to publication and uses the name ‘national development framework’ and ‘NDF’ throughout. For clarification the references to the national development framework in this document are taken to mean Future Wales – The National Plan 2040. 2 Contents Chapter Page 1 Introduction 4 2 Engagement and consultation 5 3 Structure of the Report 11 4 Summary of Consultation Responses and Welsh 13 Government response 5 Welsh Government Response to Climate Change, 207 Environment and Rural Affairs Committee 6 Welsh Government Response to Economy, Skills and 229 Infrastructure Committee 7 Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) and Habitat 235 Regulations Assessment (HRA) summaries 3 1. Introduction 1.1 The Planning (Wales) Act 2015 requires Welsh Ministers to produce a National Development Framework (NDF) setting out the policies of the Welsh Government in relation to the development and use of land in Wales. The NDF is also identified in the national strategy, Prosperity for All, as a key component of the Government’s commitment towards achieving sustainable growth and combatting climate change. 1.2 A key stage in the preparation of the NDF is the publication of a full draft. This draft was published and subject to public consultation between 7 August and 15 November 2019. 1.3 This consultation report summarises and analyses the feedback provided by respondents, sets out the Welsh Government’s response to these, and explains how the responses have influenced and led to proposed changes made to draft NDF policies. The proposed changes are comprehensively presented in a Schedule of Changes, published alongside this document 1.4 In addition to the public consultation process, the proposed changes to NDF policies have also been influenced by the work undertaken by two Senedd scrutiny committees: the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Committee. The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee considered written submissions and heard oral evidence from stakeholders during meetings on 24 October, 6 November and 14 November 2019. The Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Committee heard evidence on the 21 November. The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee formed 51 conclusions and the Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Committee formed 8 conclusions for the Welsh Government to address. Welsh Government responses to the conclusions of these committees are set out in Chapters 5 and 6 of this report. 1.5 This report is published alongside the draft NDF and will be scrutinised by the Senedd for 60 working days. Following the consideration of any changes recommended by the Senedd, the Welsh Government will seek to publish the final NDF around 4 to 6 months later. 1.6 A summary of this consultation report is also available. 4 2. Consultation and Engagement 2.1 We have consulted with and spoken to many people across Wales and invited them to share their views on what the NDF should do and contain. During this process we have gathered extensive evidence to help us shape the plan and determine the policies to help take Wales forward over the next 20 years. Five ways of working 2.2 The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 sets out five ways of working which, alongside the Act’s well-being goals, are central to the NDF, its consultation, and engagement process. The five ways of working are: 1. Collaboration – working with others to meet well-being objectives. 2. Integration - how well-being objectives may impact upon the well-being goals, or on the objectives of other bodies. 3. Long term - balancing short-term needs with safeguarding long-term needs. 4. Involvement – involving others in achieving well-being goals, and that this process reflects diversity. 5. Prevention - acting to prevent problems occurring to help meet objectives. 2.3 To complement these principles we set out a series of actions to ensure the preparation of the NDF demonstrated the five ways of working. Engagement – Anyone can get involved and have their say during the preparation of the NDF, and help shape the NDF going forward. Consultation – In August 2019 we formally sought views on the draft NDF we considered should form the development plan for Wales over the next 20 years. Consultation responses will inform the final plan. Scrutiny – Elected members of the Senedd will scrutinise the draft NDF and make recommendations prior to its publication by the Welsh Government. Assessment – It is important we consider the effects and impacts NDF proposals could have on Wales’ environment, communities and individuals. An Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is key to this process. Everyone has been welcome to comment on the development of these assessments over the draft NDF preparation period. The ISA and HRA reports are available on our website. NDF Statement of Public Participation 2.4 The Statement of Public Participation (SPP) is a statutory document outlining how public and other stakeholders can participate in the preparation of the NDF. Each time changes have been made to the SPP they have been subject to consultation and 5 appropriately advertised. The SPP was first published in November 2016, with revisions in June 2017 and July 2019. It was further updated in September 2020 following the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 2.5 The following timetable sets out the stages and timescales for the preparation of the NDF from its inception in 2016 to its planned publication. It shows different stages of the NDF preparation process and when consultation and engagement exercises for these took place. There have been three consultation exercises over this period, at stages 2, 5, and 8: Stage 1 Prepare Statement of Public January 2016 Participation Stage 2 Publish and consult on the February – April 2016 Statement of Public Participation (12 weeks) Stage 3 Consider responses to the May – Sept 2016 Statement of Public Participation consultation and prepare a consultation report Stage 4 Gather evidence, develop the vision, Oct 2016 – March 2018 objectives and options Undertake engagement and Call for Evidence & Projects Stage 5 Publish and consult on main April – July 2018 issues, options and preferred option, supported by environmental reports and assessments (12 weeks) Stage 6 Consider responses to the main July – October 2018 issues, options and preferred option consultation and prepare a consultation report Stage 7 Prepare draft NDF October 2018 Undertake engagement – June 2019 Stage 8 Consult on draft NDF (14 weeks) August - November 2019 Stage 9 Consider responses to the draft NDF November 2019 and prepare a consultation report – August 2020 Stage 10 Assembly consideration of the draft September – November 2020 NDF (60 ‘sitting’ days) Stage 11 Publish NDF February 2021 Strategy for consultation and engagement 6 2.6 The purpose of the consultation and engagement campaign during this formal draft NDF consultation stage was multi-faceted. The intention was to disseminate information about the NDF, to collect evidence to support the NDF, to enable stakeholders to discuss issues with Welsh Government officials, to reach all parts of Wales, and to encourage umbrella organisations to inform their members. The consultation was promoted in a variety of ways, including the Welsh Government website, through 1,552 stakeholders registered in the NDF Engagement Consultation database, existing professional and non-professional networks, stakeholder meetings and events, and various media and social media outlets. Responding to the consultation 2.7 The consultation exercise included the following formal documents: the draft NDF (available online and in print) an easy-read version of the draft NDF (available online and in print) a youth friendly version of the draft NDF (available online) a leaflet setting out the background to the NDF and summarising the content of the draft NDF (available in print) full and summary versions of the ISA and HRA reports (available online and in print) Full and easy-read versions of consultation response form (available online and in print) 2.8 These documents can be viewed on the closed consultation section of the Welsh Government website: https://gov.wales/draft-national-development-framework. 2.9 The consultation response forms were provided in an online format to be completed through the Welsh Government website and as pdf/word documents to be emailed to the Welsh Government. The form contained 15 questions, 11 of which relate specifically to the NDF strategy and policies, with the remaining four concerned with impacts on the Welsh language, Integrated Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment and further comments. 2.10 The 15 questions related to sections and policies of the draft NDF as shown below. 1. NDF Outcomes 9. North Wales (Policies 17-22) 2. Spatial Strategy (Policies 1-4) 10. Mid and South West Wales 3. Affordable Housing (Policy 5) (Policies 23-26) 4. Mobile Action Zones (Policy 6) 11. South East Wales (Policies 27-33) 5. Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (Policy 12. Integrated Sustainability Appraisal 7) 13. Habitats Regulations Assessment 6. Green Infrastructure (Policies 8 & 9) 14. Welsh Language 7. Renewable Energy and District Heat 15. Further comments Networks (Policies 10-15) 8. The Regions (Policy 16) 7 2.11 The full consultation questions, set out in the consultation response form, can be viewed at the following link: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2019- 10/draft-national-development-framework-consultation-document.pdf. 2.12 The easy read version of the questionnaire contained the eight following questions: Part A – The main points of the NDF Our plan is for the biggest developments in Wales to happen in towns and cities – places like Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham.