Campaign to change Welsh Government's Planning Bill grows

The campaign to change the Welsh Government Planning Law is growing in momentum. Campaigning group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg have been spearheading the opposition to the governments proposed planning laws. The proposed laws has been heavily criticised for ignoring the Welsh language and centralising planning powers in Cardiff. 

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has published its own alternative plans and is calling for a Bill which: 

• States that the purpose of the planning system is to manage land in a way which is sustainable environmentally, tackles poverty and promotes the Welsh language; 
• Assesses local needs as a starting point and certain foundation for development plans, rather than housing targets which are based on national population projections; 
• Ensure that developments impacts on the Welsh language are assessed; 
• Gives legal power for councillors to consider the Welsh language when accepting or rejecting plans, by making the Welsh language a statutory material consideration; 
• Establish a Planning Tribunal for Wales to which communities can appeal