Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Place and Community Wellbeing.

Submitted – a report by the Director of Place and Community Wellbeing in relation to a Draft Response to Welsh Government’s National Development Framework Consultation.

The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing reported that National Development Framework (NDF) is a new development plan which will set the direction for development in Wales from 2020 to 2040.  It sets a strategy for addressing key national priorities through the planning system, including sustaining and developing a vibrant economy, decarbonisation, developing resilient ecosystems and improving the health and well-being of our communities.  The NDF is a spatial plan, which means it sets a direction for where investment in infrastructure and development should be located for the benefit of Wales and its people.  The NDF is the highest tier of development plan and is focused on issues and challenges at a national scale.  Its strategic nature means it does not allocate development to all parts of Wales, nor does it include policies on all land uses.  He said that responding to the NDF is critically important to ensure that planning policy at the highest tier is fit for purpose and that there is clear alignment between the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s aspirations from the local level through to the national level that will provide the direction of travel for future investment in infrastructure and development. 

He further said that this is an opportunity for this Council to influence the contents of the NDF which will shape nation’s development for the next 20 years.  He referred that the planning system as regards to Developments of National Significance (DNF) is decided by Welsh Government and not through the local planning authority.  He gave an example that consultation has undertaken as regards to the Traffwll Solar Farm.  The proposed solar farm is a 289 acre site on farmland in 7 areas south of the A55.  This proposal will be decided by Welsh Government.  He noted that the NDF would have a higher influence on any decision rather than the Authority’s Local Development Plan policies.

The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing further said that the County Council supports the principle of creating a NDF for Wales, however, the Council does have serious concerns and reservations in relation to a number of themes and policies in the draft NDF.  He said that the Council needs to express strongly that some of the projects within the NDF will not comply with the Island’s landscape.  The NDF proposes that the centre of the Island as being suitable for wind and solar farms and according to the Welsh Government, the presumption in favour of large on-shore wind and solar energy developments in priority areas. He said that as Officers they do not consider that such a development of wind turbines of 250 metres is deemed suitable for the Island.  The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing further said that Council is surprised that Holyhead has not been recognised or defined as a Regional Growth Area for Wales and especially given that the NDF specifically identifies the importance of the Port of Holyhead to serve Wales, the wider UK and Ireland. 

The NDF refers that there will be a new level of planning policies i.e. National Planning Policies, Regional Planning Policies and Local Planning Polices.     The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing questioned as to whether there is a need for such three tier policies as local government resources is already pressured and this Authority has agreed a Joint Planning Policy with Gwynedd Council. 

The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing highlighted that some Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP’s) projects have been omitted from the NDF:-

·      Low carbon energy projects

·      Insufficient reference to rural areas

·      Designated policy for the Welsh Language

·      Lack of reference to the third bridge

·      Affordable housing

·      Importance of the Airfield at Valley for the connection between North and South Wales

He noted that Officer’s within the Council are highlighting the concerns of the Authority within project groups regionally and the Chief Executive is raising issues of concerns within the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters:-

·           Questions were raised as to how the proposed National Development Framework will impact on the Council’s strategic work programme and community wellbeing.  The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing responded that the NDF is a draft document at present and the final version will be published in September 2020; thereafter the Council will need to address the policy framework, over the next 20 years, in shaping the future growth and development of the Island for the benefit of the residents and the next generation.  A robust review will also need to be undertaken of the Joint Local Development Plan to make sure that both documents comply with each other; 

·           Reference was made that a large proportion of the Island has been identified within the NDF as being suitable for wind and solar farms.  Questions were raised as to the possible effects on both RAF Valley and the airfield at Mona.  The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing responded that discussion will need to be undertaken with the MOD as regards to the effects of such proposal within the NDF;

·           Questions were raised whether the Council’s draft response to the NDF was robust enough and fit for purpose.  The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing responded that the closing date for response to the NDF has been extended to the 15th November and any issues or concerns that Elected Members may have as regards to any heading within the Authority’s response can be carried out before formal issue of response to the framework;

·           Reference was made that it would be appropriate to invite the Welsh Language Commissioner to this Scrutiny Committee as regard to the need for a designed policy for the Welsh language within the National Framework.   The Chief Executive responded that an invitation can be extended to the Welsh Language Commissioner either to this meeting or to a Members Briefing Session;

·           Reference was made to the disappointment that Holyhead has not been recognised or defined as a Regional Growth Area for Wales.  The Director of Place and Community Wellbeing said that it is important that Holyhead is defined as a Regional Growth Area as funding towards project within the town would be made easier i.e., towards Health Centre, schools.  He noted that without the Regional Growth Area status it would be difficult to attract public sector funding towards project within the town of Holyhead.

It was RESOLVED:-

·           to recommend to the Executive that the Council’s draft response to the Welsh Government’s National Development Framework be approved;

·           to invite the Welsh Language Commissioner either to this Scrutiny Committee or to the monthly Members Briefing Session as regard to the need for a designed policy for the Welsh language within the National Framework.

ACTION: As noted above.