Following the decision to deny the call in request for the Pier Pavilion application to be determined by Welsh Ministers, and finding that only 1 of 80 planning applications were determined over the last 3 years, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, has been calling for a review of the guidance issued by the Welsh Government, which has led her to speak of her disappointment that the Cabinet Secretary is unwilling to make ‘impact on tourism’ a key consideration in the guidelines.

The Welsh Government’s policy on calling in planning applications is set out broadly in section 3.7.3 of Planning Policy Wales (Edition 9, November 2016)

Janet said:

“As you will be aware Welsh Ministers refused to determine the Pier Pavilion development – an application which has captured the attention of locals and countless people from across the UK.

“Central to applications being accepted for determination by Welsh Ministers is that they must raise planning issues of more than local importance. Given the potential impact, positive and negative, the Pier Pavilion build could have on tourism in a town which leads the way in this key Welsh economic sector, I really was quite surprised that the Welsh Government didn’t agree to the request and see it as a matter of national, rather than only local importance. 

“Tourism is worth millions to the Welsh economy, and is the source of income for some constituents and businesses in every ward of the constituency I am honoured to represent. It follows that I am therefore very disappointed that the Welsh Government are unwilling to make ‘impact on tourism’ a key consideration when deciding whether or not to accept requests to determine Planning Applications”.

Notes

Written Assembly Question by Janet:

Further to WAQ76536 and only one planning application being determined by Welsh Ministers, what consideration has the Cabinet Secretary made of reviewing the current guidance for call-in requests to ensure that applications affecting more than the local area may be determined nationally, to include taking into account impacts on tourism?

Response by Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs:

The power of the Welsh Ministers to call-in planning applications is discretionary and wide. These powers are used selectively and call-in is generally only considered appropriate where an application raises planning issues of more than local importance. Examples of proposals where call-in may be considered appropriate are those which:

•        are in conflict with national planning policies;

•        could have wide effects beyond their immediate locality;

•        may give rise to substantial controversy beyond the immediate locality;

•        are likely significantly to affect sites of scientific, nature conservation or historic interest or areas of landscape importance;

•        raise issues of national security; or

•        raise novel planning issues.

The current powers and guidance are considered sufficiently wide to enable the Welsh Ministers to call in applications which raise any relevant planning issues deemed to be of more than local importance.

Pier Pavilion Application Call-In Request Denied by Cabinet Secretary

Only 1 Planning Application determined by Welsh Ministers in 3 years