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Government could prevent poor-quality houses being built, says Welsh housing minister
Welsh ministers may intervene in planning applications that are not of high quality or designed to create sustainable communities, the housing and local government minister has said.
Speaking at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru conference in Cardiff, Julie James said the government is considering changes to enable ministers to step in on applications that don’t adhere to the government’s placemaking principles.
According to Ms James, this could be done by ministers ‘calling in’ applications that don’t embrace the government’s approach – although this would be done sparingly.
She also said government grants, including the Help to Buy and regeneration funding, should be used to incentivise good practice within the development sector.
The Welsh government has put placemaking at the heart of its national policy, in an effort to ensure new developments are sustainable and provide for the needs of people.
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It said good examples of placemaking include ensuring developments are in the right places, have built-in walking and cycling routes, contain open green spaces and are energy efficient.
Ms James said: “Too often people tell me about the small size and poor build quality of some new homes with the lack of sufficient green infrastructure and the failure to adopt roads and open space.
“So taking good planning decisions can and must improve people’s lives. This includes both strategic decisions on where to locate new development and local decision on the design and layout of an individual house.
“I want the communities of the future to be places where everyone wants to live. We want people to raise their children and grow old in a community where they feel safe and comfortable, with the sufficient services and facilities which support them through every stage of their lives.
“The Welsh government wants to ensure the biggest applications for new development coming forward are exemplars of placemaking practice and do not carry on the unsatisfactory practices of the past. If necessary, we will use our planning powers to ensure this.”
