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Questions and ministerial response (pdf: 102kb)

Planning Policy Wales

TAN 12, Design

Design Commission report on Abergavenny cattle market proposals (pdf: 123kb)

Minister questioned on call-in powers

Through the Assembly Government's Voluntary Sector Partnership representatives of voluntary networks meet twice a year with relevant ministers to address issues of significance and to develop the relationship between government and NGOs in Wales. The Trust has the opportunity to take part in meetings with both the Culture minister, Alan Pugh, and the minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones.

At the VSP meeting with Carwyn Jones on 22 November, Trust director Matthew Griffiths put a number of questions regarding the call-in of planning applications by the Assembly Government. Says Dr Griffiths, "The list of reasons cited in Planning Policy Wales as having the potential to justify a government call-in is very broad-brush, and while some issues seem relatively straightforward to identify, others are less so. I especially wanted to establish whether the government operates any specific criteria in relation to these categories, and to find out how far controversy over design might be a relevant factor."

Dr Griffiths points out that in a planning system which tends to marginalise third party and community interests resort to a request for a call-in is often seen as the only way forward, particularly in circumstances where a local authority seems minded for whatever reason to grant a permission which has raised public alarm. Call-ins must revolve around issues of more than local importance, but arguably this test needs clearer definition. Moreover, now that the Assembly Government has established the Design Commission and issued a Technical Advice Note on design, it seems reasonable to ask how far design can be considered a factor of more than local importance. The current controversy over the ASDA/Henry Boot proposals for Abergavenny's livestock market, panned by amenity groups and local organisations and heavily criticised by the Design Commission, adds significance to this inquiry.

Commenting on the minister's responses, Dr Griffiths said that he would be looking for further discussion on a number of points, and that he was particularly concerned at the approach taken to design issues.

22/11/06