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Fri March 29 2024

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Welsh planning reforms come into effect

2 Mar 16 Nationally significant infrastructure projects in Wales will now be determined by ministers rather than by local planning authorities after new legislation came into force yesterday.

Carl Sargeant
Carl Sargeant

The legislation under the Planning (Wales) Act as well as associated subordinate legislation establish a new process for the consenting of Developments of National Significance (DNS).

The process is designed to ensure that the projects of most significance to the country are determined at the national level. It is intended to ensure timely decision-making - particularly on renewable energy projects – in order to create certainty for developers and communities, and help stimulate economic growth.

Natural resources minister Carl Sargeant said: “The DNS projects include energy projects with a generating capacity of between 10MW and 50MW, airports, railway infrastructure, dams and reservoirs, and other types of development requiring planning permission which are considered to be of national significance. I’m also planning to expand the thresholds to capture all onshore wind projects above 10MW.

“The DNS process forms a key part of my ‘Green Growth’ agenda. Larger-scale renewable energy projects, which this process captures, are vital to delivering further reductions in carbon emissions and sustainable development objectives, thus boosting the Welsh economy.”

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MPU
MPU

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