W
hen Carl Sargeant took over the planning portfolio at the Welsh Government earlier this year, he had an urgent question for officials: what does a good planning authority look like? Several months later, it is a question he is still wrestling with as he spearheads the nation’s drive on housing, regeneration and planning. The minister is firm about his objective: planning will drive growth across Wales. Housing development is a key engine behind that growth, although by no means the only one. Fundamental reforms are on the horizon to the Welsh planning system to achieve that objective. Sargeant’s agenda is steadily gathering pace. All the more so as momentum is building behind a draft bill on planning due to be published alongside a consultation paper before the end of the year. A bill is then set to be debated by the National Assembly by the middle of 2014. If needs be, a “consolidation bill” will be introduced to cover any unresolved issues either before the Assembly’s next elections due in 2016 or early in the following term. “It’s all about having a vision for planning,” says Sergeant. “About planning becoming an enabler for Wales, creating an environment for enterprise, environmental sustainability and community cohesion. “Across my portfolio of housing, regeneration and planning, I have been very clear about the links between growth of the economy and creating opportunity, most particularly in delivering more homes in the planning system.”
Simplifying the system Since devolution, the Welsh government has updated national planning policies appropriate to the nation’s needs and made a firm commitment to sustainable development, economic revival and affordable homes. Sargeant is now keen to press for a step-change in planning reforms. The message for planners is that Wales is another country and they do things differently there. While Whitehall ministers make no secret of their contempt for regional planning – one of the coalition government’s first acts was to abolish it – their Welsh counterparts are going in the opposite
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direction. However, they will not be rolling out regional planning nationwide. Housing development is one of those tricky elements that often falls between the stools of local and national decisionmaking. Then there is the thorny question of whether Wales has too many planning authorities, which vary dramatically in size and scale. “We have 25 planning authorities for a population of about three million, which is the size of Birmingham,” Sargeant explains. “To make that right we need strategic planning decisions. We need to make Wales a growth zone yet balance that with the needs of communities. “Across the 25 authorities, the planning system is complex for individuals who want to take part in it. We want a regionality that gives opportunities for developers and people seeking growth, and for local government to have a statutory vision for having that growth both locally and nationally. There will be more opportunity for people to interact with the planning system. “The planning bill is an opportunity for a Wales-only bill that will define the difference between the UK and the devolved governments, with a planning system that needs to adapt to economic regional plans. “My view is that 25 planning authorities are too many, but we need to get the functions right –
C A R L S A R G E A NT
Born: St Asaph, North Wales Professional training: Quality and Environmental Auditor, industrial firefighter In politics: 2003
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2013
2003
2007
2009
2011
2013
Elected to National Assembly for Wales; re-elected 2007, 2011
Labour chief whip
Minister for social justice and local government
Minister for local government and communities
Minister for housing and regeneration
THE PLANNER \ OCTOBER 2013
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