Stunning Advance for Future Health of Welsh Language - New Law Limits Damage to Welsh Heartland by Property Developers

"We are glad that the Welsh language will be a consideration when it comes to housing developments and planning the future of Welsh communities. Cymdeithas yr Iaith has been campaigning for over a quarter century for a new planning system that give the Welsh language status." – Welsh Language Society

A new law has come into effect in Wales that will result in the slowdown and hopefully the eventual halt in the erosion of the Welsh speaking heartland caused by property development.  The new law is “The Planning (Wales) Act 2015”, which requires that the impact of new development on the Welsh language be a “material consideration” as part of the process of obtaining planning permission for new construction.

Concerns about disruption to traditional Welsh speaking areas by residential development and the in-migration of English speakers began reaching a boiling point in late 2013. Mounting concern over the threat to the Brythonic tongue by property development in Welsh speaking areas spilled over into political conflict in the Welsh Assembly with charges of corruption against local planning authorities. Pressure began to build in late 2014 for statutory requirements that planning permission include assessment of the impact on new  construction on  the Welsh tongue as this development is often extremely disruptive to  centuries old welsh speaking communities. 

Transceltic’s  Mair Williams reported in October 2014 that the Welsh Language Society had  published an alternative Planning and Property Bill  including  proposals to make the language a material consideration in the planning system, establish a statutory system of language impact assessments, and setting housing targets by local authorities based on local needs. The article quoted Robin Farrar, chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraegth (Welsh Language Society): “Many people are concerned about the effect of over-development in a number of areas across Wales – from un-needed housing developments to the new M4 – and the effect of that on the...Welsh language...In the hundreds of pages of paper about their proposed Bill there wasn’t a single word about the effect of the planning system on the Welsh language.”

Stunning is a word that comes to mind when reflecting on the institutional and statutory changes that have been introduced in Wales over the past year that strengthen the language.  In 2015 we saw gains in University level Welsh medium education, State Services will be required to be provided in Welsh and English, Health Care Services will hence forth be provided in Welsh to those who demand it and Cardiff this past year made a milestone decision to move to universal Welsh medium education in state funded primary schools.

Do not underestimate the impact of these actions on the future health of the Welsh language and survival of Celtic culture in Wales.  Reintroducing Welsh as the primary language of education and state services has profound implications. Welsh speaking staff, teachers and medical professionals will be needed to provide these services which in turn enhances the economic benefit of Welsh proficiency, driving an advantage to Welsh speakers in the market place.   It’s been a good year for the Welsh language. One almost weeps looking west across the Irish Sea in comparing the Celts in charge in Dublin versus those holding sway in Cardiff.  Now this week is the added good news that the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 requires that the Welsh language is a material consideration in planning for the first time.

News from the Welsh Language Society/Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg: The following is from the organization’s web site (linked below):   

As the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 comes into force today (4th January) Cymdeithas yr Iaith has said it hopes this will lead to more significant changes in the planning process.

The changes will mean that the Welsh language is a material consideration in planning for the first time.

Elwyn Vaughan, Cymdeithas' spokesperson on Sustainable Communities: "We are glad that the Welsh language will be a consideration when it comes to housing developments and planning the future of Welsh communities. Cymdeithas yr Iaith has been campaigning for over a quarter century for a new planning system that give the Welsh language status."

The Planning Bill will also require an assessment of the impact of Local Development Plans (LDP) on the Welsh language.  Elwyn Vaughan added:  "While some councils give due consideration to the Welsh language when preparing their LDP, the unfortunate comments by the leader of Cardiff Council have shown the need for a law.  "The housing development overturned in Bangor recently, all the houses that will be built in Carmarthenshire as part of the LDP, and the lack of housing for local young people in a number of villages in Ceredigion shows a need for a Planning Bill which, in the short-term, ensures consideration for the Welsh language but also allows for the transformation of the planning system in the long term in order to meet local demand, so that we have the right housing in the right places when it is needed."

http://cymdeithas.cymru/news/changes-planning-law-force-firm-foundation-...