Written Statement: National Development Framework.

The National Development Framework (NDF) is a new development plan which will provide a national spatial strategy, setting out where we should focus development over the next 20 years to help deliver decarbonisation, ecosystem resilience and inclusive, fair economic growth.

Following extensive consultation on the draft NDF last year, I have today laid the draft NDF before the Senedd for a 60-day consideration period. It is accompanied by a consultation report setting out the issues raised during the consultation, a schedule of changes I intend to make following consideration of the consultation responses and an updated integrated sustainability appraisal. These documents are available to view here.

To support the scrutiny process I have today published two documents. The first sets out how I intend to monitor the NDF after its publication; and the second is a version of the schedules of changes document that has been laid in the format of the draft NDF document that was consulted upon last year.  These documents are available to view here.

I will be tabling an amendable motion in government-time to provide an opportunity for the Senedd to express its views on (but not approve) the draft NDF. The debate will take place during the 60-day consideration period so the Government can reflect on the issues raised and any recommendations received from the Senedd in a timely manner.

This is the first NDF to be prepared by the Welsh Government and will set the direction for strategic and local development plans to come. We have listened to the many responses we received during the consultation and the draft NDF will be significantly amended, and improved, by the comments and recommendations we received. 

I look forward to hearing the response from the Senedd on the draft NDF and the changes I have set out to it. I intend to publish the final version of the document, to be known as Future Wales – The National Plan 2040, in February 2021.