At the recent Welsh Conservative Conference, held in Newtown, Welsh Conservative Leader, Andrew RT Davies MS announced bold policy proposals to shake up the planning system here in Wales.
At present, the planning system administered by Local Authorities considers applications and for those applications given the green light, developers have up to five years to commence development. Under new proposals, Welsh Conservatives are calling for this system to changed to mandate developers to commence development or risk having their approvals withdrawn. Instead of planning permission, Welsh Conservatives are calling for planning compulsion.
James Evans MS said:
“Many people living in Brecon and Radnorshire are struggling to find suitable housing and to address this pressing issue we need to see sustainable and in keeping development take place across our communities.
It cannot be right that many young families are forced out of the hamlets and villages they were raised because they cannot find or afford appropriate housing. Lack of housing for young families harms the future of our rural economy and communities.
In Brecon and Radnorshire we are facing a challenging situation we unfair phosphate regulations, preventing development of the homes we need. I’ll continue to take the fight to the Welsh Labour Government, encouraging them to visit our communities and see for themselves the harm caused by their policies.”
When developers are given the green light, local communities often encounter ‘land banking’, the situation where developers have planning approvals yet bank the land and don’t start building the homes we so desperately need. Land banking restricts the supply of available land for development, and this can drive up costs for those wishing to purchase homes.
Planning compulsion would make sure firms have to build on land they own, rather than sitting on land when it’s use is urgently needed.
Homeownership gives people security, and the Welsh Conservatives are focused on delivering the homes our country so desperately needs. Homeownership is freedom and that is the most Conservative of values.”
