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The National Assembly, Planning and Design
Kay Powell, National Assembly of Wales
The Government of Wales Act sets the context for the work of the National Assembly in the fields of planning and design. The act sets out in broad terms both procedures for the Assembly's operation and defines the structures within which this work is carried out. The Act gives the Assembly specific duties with regard to sustainable development, and the development of partnerships with local government, the voluntary sector and business. The work of the Assembly should reflect critical underlying principles, including equal opportunities, human rights, and the use of the Welsh language.
The values and priorities of the Assembly include openness, social inclusion, a strategic approach, and the provision of good government. These are reflected in the Assembly's unique political structure of cabinet, committees, secretaries and chairs. The Cabinet drives business but refers its proposals to Committee for consideration. The lack of a political majority promotes inclusion and consensus.
All planning functions that were the responsibility of the Welsh Office and the Secretary of State have transferred, since July, to the Assembly. This gives the Assembly key roles with regard to secondary legislation, planning guidance, and intervention in development issues. Planning application call-ins and appeals will be handled by a panel reflecting the political make-up of the Assembly which will be able to ensure a wide ownership of the decisions made on these matters. Currently, these decisions are made by the Assembly Secretary with responsibility for local government and envi-ronment, Peter Law. It is envisaged that call-ins will be rare— perhaps fewer than two dozen a year — ensuring that the great majority of planning decisions are made at the local level.
The work load undertaken by the Local Government, Planning and Environment Committee (chaired by Sue Essex AM) is considerable. It has begun for example to consider the content of planning guidance issued by the Assembly and it is envisaged that changes reflecting Welsh distinctiveness will come through this medium and through secondary legislation. What has been developed to date is rather more de-tailed than originally envisaged by John Redwood, but still cuts out the confusion and duplication that occurred within the old PPG note format. Planning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy has been developed as a single, comprehensive volume set-ting out policies for Wales in a concise way. PG (W) PP is backed by Technical Advice Notes. The first revision of PG (W) PP in April 1999 strengthened guidance on design.
A new approach has been signalled with regard to the Assembly's work on planning and design guidance. This will evolve in a more open and consultative manner than hitherto, with greater debate being encouraged prior to the issue of consultation drafts. For the first time there is a small planning research budget and a scoping study has been commissioned from DTZ Pieda that will identify key policy issues and advise on the content of existing research and experience. This research will be made accessible and should provide a basis for the definition of distinctive Welsh issues for the plan-ning system to tackle. A Planning Forum will consider the results of the research pro-gramme and this should be in place by December or January. The formation of this expert group should assist Peter Law and the Planning Division to review PG (W) PP by the end of 2000.
Overall it is intended that the process of policy revision should be faster than in the past. Meanwhile a critical role will be played by local planning authorities who will have the responsibility as before for development planning and control.
In the process of policy definition there is room for a debate to be joined that should be inclusive and extend beyond particular professions and interest groupings. There may be a role for strategic alliances here. The focus for the immediate future is likely to lie in researching definitions of Welsh distinctiveness, and developing consultation nationally and regionally. There needs to be a dialogue that involves public and politicians. In developing this dialogue the Urban Design Alliance as it operates in England offers one model. Meanwhile the Urban Task Force has stressed the need for regional expertise, and we should take account in Wales of innovations in both England and Scotland in addressing design issues.
Finally, urban design should be integral to sustainability, and to achieve this we need to be proactive, and to investigate the relationships between urban form, urban design, and sustainable behaviour.
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