(Title Image: Welsh Government under Crown Copyright)

On 7th August 2019, the Welsh Government began a public consultation on a new draft 20-year National Development Framework (NDF) which will set out strategic planning for Wales until 2040 (pdf).

“The challenge for a plan like the NDF is not necessarily to predict how Wales might change over the next twenty years but to make sure we can build a society and an economy that is flexible and resilient, to enable all of us to benefit from the changes in a sustainable way. It means the NDF has a strong focus on sustainable travel, with policies on Metro systems and charging infrastructure for low emission vehicles. It sets a clear vision for more renewable energy, coupled with a commitment for more and better green infrastructure.”

– Local Government & Housing Minister, Julie James (Lab, Swansea West)

Key proposals include:

Supporting growth in urban centres, with a principle of “town centres first” for development – accessible by public transport and walking/cycling.

Building an additional 114,000 homes by 2038, with 57% of them built in south Wales and a higher proportion of them being “affordable”.

Increasing and improving mobile coverage.

Support and planning for electric and other low-carbon vehicle infrastructure.

Safeguarding areas for habitat creation and restoration, including the creation of a National Forest via the planting of 2000 hectares of new woodland per year from 2020.

Phasing in district heat networks and prioritising wind and solar energy in identified priority areas.

The drafting of regional strategic development plans.

North Wales Priorities: Wrexham & Deeside as a focused area of growth; improving transport links with north-west England; supporting nuclear energy.

Mid & South West Wales Priorities: Swansea Bay, Carmarthen, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown & Aberystwyth as focused areas for growth; Swansea Bay Metro; development of Haven waterway.

South East Wales Priorities: Cardiff and Newport should be the focused area of growth; co-ordinated regeneration of the Heads of the Valleys; growth and development of Cardiff Airport; developing Valleys Regional Park.

The consultation is open until 1st November 2019, with all details available here.