Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I am pleased to issue Technical Advice Note 20: Planning and the Welsh language, incorporating changes brought about by the Planning (Wales) Act 2015.
The Act consolidated consideration for the Welsh language at every level of the planning system, from the National Development Framework, through to Strategic Development Plans and down to Local Development Plans. It demonstrated the Welsh Government’s commitment to strive for a Welsh language that is thriving and vibrant in every part of Wales.
This updated TAN 20 provides local planning authorities, developers and communities with advice on how the language can be supported and protected by the planning system. We have a plan-led system and it is vitally important for all development plans to consider how the strategy, policies and site specific proposals contribute towards creating the conditions for the language to thrive. Every planning authority in Wales must do this – it is a legal duty to consider the language as part of the Sustainability Appraisal.
The new Welsh Language Strategy, Cymraeg 2050, recognises the importance of employment and community facilities for the language. TAN 20 supports the Strategy by encouraging Local Development Plans to promote places where community life can take place in Welsh. The language has historically been at its strongest when people have job opportunities, a choice of housing and a vibrant social life in their community. TAN 20 seeks to ensure local planning authorities see development as vital to the future of the language. The pace and the scale of development should be managed appropriately, but to overly restrict development will not provide current and future Welsh speakers with the chance to work and live in thriving Welsh speaking communities.
The revised TAN brings together the policy advice and the practical guidance which were previously in separate documents. I expect everyone involved in the planning system to use this guidance constructively and to use the development plan system as a tool to support a thriving Welsh language across Wales.
Link to updated TAN 20: http://gov.wales/topics/planning/policy/tans/planning-and-the-welsh-language/?lang=en
Link to Consultation report: https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/proposed-changes-technical-advice-note-20-planning-and-welsh-language