Planning policy and guidance: national policy

Guidance and services

• Planning policy Wales
  Our national policy outlining guidance for making planning decisions.
• Development management manual
  Comprehensive guidance to local planning authorities on handling and deciding development proposals.
• Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980: various provisions (circular 13/81)
  Details of the relaxation of controls following introduction of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
• Developments of national significance: summary of changes
  Planning applications for developments of national significance are made to Planning Inspectorate Wales.
• Timely use of enforcement powers
  Guidance to help planning officers deal with unauthorised development.
• Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (Commencement Orders 1 and 2)
  Letter to explain the practical effect of changes to the Planning (Wales) Act 2015.
• Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (circular 44/91)
  A summary of the main provisions of the Planning and Compensation Act.
• Called-in planning applications: guidance
  Explains why and when the Welsh Ministers may take planning decisions.
• Planning performance framework and sustainable development indicators
  Guidance on the collection of planning performance framework and sustainable development indicators.
• Land compensation code and compulsory purchase procedures (circular 50/91)
  Describes Part III and section 80 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.
• Planning performance framework measures
  Defines service standards to assess the performance of local planning authorities.
• Housing and Planning Act 1986: planning provisions (circular 57/86)
  Describes parts of the Housing and Planning Act which came into force on 7 January 1987.
• Planning Inquiry Commissions (circular 59/68)
  Explains the procedures for planning inquiries as set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1968.
• Technical advice notes
  Technical advice notes (TANs) provide detailed planning advice.
• Environmental impact assessment for town and country planning: summary of changes
  Guidance for local planning authorities on changes to the environmental impact assessment process.
• Planning and Compensation Act 1991: new development plan system (circular 71/91)
  Transitional arrangements for older development plans when the system changed in 1991. Some of these plans are still extant.
• Planning appeals, costs, standard daily amounts and compulsory purchase orders
  Letter about changes made in 2017 to legislation and guidance on appeals.
• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (circular 8/77)
  Summary of the main points covered by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
• Referring planning applications to the Welsh Ministers
  Changes made in 2012 to when planning authorities must notify the Welsh Ministers of an application.
• The Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992 (circular 39/92)
  The procedure for local planning authorities to determine applications made by the authority itself.
• Planning for future prison development (circular 17/98)
  Advice to local planning authorities on making provision for new prison developments.
• The use of planning conditions for development management (WGC 016/2014)
  2014 update to advice on the use of planning conditions.
• Purchase notices (circular 22/83)
  Guidance on the use of and handling of purchase notices.
• Enforcing planning control: legislative provisions and procedural requirements (circular 24/97)
  Guidance on planning enforcement and inquiries.
• Referring planning applications to the Welsh Ministers (circular 07/12)
  Explains when local planning authorities must refer planning applications to the Welsh Ministers.
• General Development Order Consolidation 1995 (circular 29/95)
  Explains changes introduced to permitted development in 1995.

Policy and background Includes strategy, reports, projects and assessments.

• Research to inform the review of the planning enforcement system
  Report
  A report on how to improve the efficiency of the planning enforcement process.
• Comparative spatial planning methodologies research study
  Report
  The final report of a study to identify the most appropriate options for a national spatial planning framework.
• Delivery of planning services in statutory designated landscapes
  Report
  A review of the planning service in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
• Five year review and evaluation of the planning research programme
  Report
  Whether the planning research programme met its objectives and recommended future work.
• A new approach to managing development
  Report
  A review of the development planning system to inform the creation of a Welsh Planning Act.
• Public attitudes towards the planning system
  Report
  A report into public opinion on the planning system and how they would like it to change.
• The categorisation of uses and management of change: a planning review
  Report
  Research to find out if changes to how we identify and classify the use of buildings and land will benefit the planning system.
• Towards a Welsh Planning Act: ensuring the planning system delivers
  Report
  A review of the planning system with recommendations on how it can improve.
• Thresholds and criteria for developments of national significance
  Report
  An assessment of the categories of developments of national significance and how to improve them.
• A strategic monitoring framework for the planning system
  Report
  Research to find the best way to measure the sustainable development outcomes of the planning system.
• Exploring methods for the identification of strategic planning areas: final report
  Report
  A report by Cardiff University to find out the best way to identify strategic planning areas.
• Review and evaluation of the development control monitoring process
  Report
  A review of the data we collect from local authorities about planning applications.
• Quantification of infrastructure and business and commercial planning applications
  Report
  A report on infrastructure, business and commercial planning applications between 2005 and 2012.
• Review of land use planning indicators: final report
  Report
  Research on the data and information needed to monitor the planning system.
• Research into the operation of planning committees
  Report
  A report on planning committees and how to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
• Evaluation of the processes used to develop national planning policy
  Report
  Report into how planning policy is developed and presented, for example how technical advice is produced.
• Planning decisions being considered by the Welsh Ministers (called-in)
  Report
  Planning proposals currently under consideration or recently determined by the Welsh Ministers.
• Wales Spatial Plan update: habitats regulations assessment and appropriate assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of the affect of the plan on designated European sites (EC Birds and Habitats Directives).
• Planning (Wales) Bill: Welsh language impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill promotes our commitment to the Welsh language.
• National Development Framework
  Collection
  Reports and feedback that have helped develop the National Development Framework (NDF).
• Planning (Wales) Bill: equality impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill may affect equality.
• Plan to improve the planning system (positive planning implementation plan)
  Policy and strategy
  Projects, priorities and timetables for our changes to the planning system.
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2020
  Legislation
  This order gives new permitted development rights to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: rights of the child impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill may affect children's rights.
• Planning prospectus overview
  Policy and strategy
  Our 2015 proposals to align the planning system with The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: health and wellbeing impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill may affect health and wellbeing.
• Planning policy prospectus
  Policy and strategy
  A summary of planning policy and how we proposed to adapt it in line with the goals of The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: impact on the voluntary sector impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill may affect the voluntary sector.
• Development plan prospectus
  Policy and strategy
  Proposals to adapt the development plan process in line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill.
• Interim response to the Law Commission report on planning law in Wales
  Policy and strategy
  Our interim response to a Law Commission report about simplifying and consolidating planning legislation.
• Planning (Wales) Act 2015: explanatory memorandum
  Policy and strategy
  The aims of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 and the changes it will introduce.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: regulatory impact assessment methodology paper
  Impact assessment
  A report on the options, costs and benefits for sections of the regulatory impact assessment of the Planning (Wales) Bill.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: rural proofing checklist impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill affects rural areas.
• People, places, future: the Wales spatial plan update 2008
  Policy and strategy
  Our 20 year plan for local and community planning.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: sustainable development impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill affects sustainable development.
• Wales Spatial Plan update: significant environmental effects statement
  Impact assessment
  How we will track the possible environmental effects of the plan's implementation.
• Planning (Wales) Bill: privacy impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Planning (Wales) Bill may affect privacy.