National Development Framework: draft Statement of Public Participation

1.1 The Welsh Government will prepare a revised National Development Framework for Wales (NDF). It will replace the first iteration – Future Wales: the national Plan 2040, published 24^th February 2021.

1.2 The NDF is a development plan for the whole of Wales. It sets out national planning policies and expresses spatially Welsh Government’s long term economic, social and environmental objectives. The NDF forms part of the statutory plan for determining planning applications and assists the determination of Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIP).

1.3 The NDF identifies strategic locations for growth and infrastructure and by linking change and investment, aims to make a positive difference to Wales. The NDF sets out an ambitious future for Wales and provides a framework around which decisions at all levels can help deliver a better future.

1.4 The Planning (Wales) Act 2015 sets the statutory process for undertaking a revision to the NDF. Welsh Government are committed to ensuring wide public participation in its revision aligned with the legislative requirements. This Statement of Public Participation (SoPP) sets out how the Welsh Government will involve people in its development and ensure people are aware how and when to engage in its preparation.

1.5 Everyone is a stakeholder in the NDF, given its importance in providing a framework for new development across the whole of Wales. We welcome and encourage representations from everyone, and all groups, institutions, businesses and individuals have a contribution to make in developing the national spatial plan.

2.1 The following timetable sets out the stages and timescales for the revision of the NDF and highlights when consultation will take place.

2.2 The preparation timetable sets out a process of approximately four years to adoption. It incorporates three specific twelve week stages of public consultation.

2.3 The timeframe demonstrates the Government’s commitment to revising the NDF and will enable sufficient time for engagement and meaningful dialogue. It is not anticipated that the timetable will change, or additional consultations will be required. The Welsh Government will keep this position under review however and publish an updated version of this document if required.

2.4 The Welsh Government will ensure that information about the development of the NDF is available during all stages of the process and officials will be available to provide advice and support.

3.1 In developing the SoPP, the Welsh Government has considered how it can ensure,

• People can inform the development of the participation programme;
• Participation is inclusive, open and transparent and people have opportunities to be involved across the process;
• A collaborative approach;
• Information is accessible;
• There is feedback on representations made across the process.

3.2 There are three key steps the Welsh Government will undertake to involve members of the public in the preparation of the NDF. These are, 

• Information & Support – ensure there is access to information about the NDF throughout the process and that there is support available to help people get involved.
• Key Consultation Stages – raise awareness of consultations and provide opportunities to submit comments.
• National Conversation Engagement Plan – The revision of the NDF provides a unique opportunity to hold a national conversation about the future of Wales. Rather than consulting solely on planning policy issues, engagement through the process will invite people to consider the long-term future of the nation and the role of places, communities, infrastructure, environment and culture in achieving that vision. The Engagement Plan sets the principles for this national conversation. 

3.3 During the revision of the NDF the Welsh Government is committed to ensuring everyone can access information on its development; are kept informed of its progress; and can contact officials to learn more about the process. It will do the following,

• Website
• Helpline & Emails
• Social Media
• Articles & Press
• Newsletter
• Consultation Database

3.4 At stages 2, 5 and 8, twelve-week consultation exercises will be held. These are key milestones in the NDF process, when documents are published and views are sought on them. The key focus at these stages is to widely publicise the consultation, make the documents and the evidence on which they are based available and encourage people to review them and comment. These stages will be crucial in shaping the revised NDF and it is important people take the opportunity to consider what is proposed and comment.

3.5 In addition to the steps above to support people, the Welsh Government will at these key stages publicise the consultation widely and offer a variety of ways to make your views known on the NDF. We plan to directly canvass interest and demand from stakeholders and offer a variety of ways of contributing at consultation stages, including the following,

• Publication of key documents and supporting evidence.
• Direct Meetings & Events
• Awareness Raising.

It is important that people can be involved in the preparation of key NDF documents before they are published for consultation. Effective engagement means people will have had the opportunity to shape the emerging NDF before the consultation stages including providing evidence they feel should be considered through the process.

4.1 Undertaking a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) for the NDF is a legislative requirement under the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 and must incorporate an assessment of the likely effects on the use of the Welsh Language. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is also required to assess the effect of the plan on the contribution to the achievement of sustainable development and ensure it is fully integrated into a plan preparation process.

4.2 Given the nature and scope of the NDF, there are other statutory and non-statutory impact assessments that also need to be undertaken. The Welsh Government have therefore decided to undertake an Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) to allow a more rounded view of the implications and opportunities arising from the NDF. Alongside the SA and SEA requirements the ISA will also incorporate the following assessments. 

• Welsh Language Impact Assessment in line with the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.
• Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA), as required by the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011.
• Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA), as required by the Equalities Act (2010).
• Socio-economic Duty Assessment – Equalities Act (2010)
• Well-being of Future Generations (WBFG) Act (2015).
• Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) and the Natural Resources Policy (NRP) as required by the Environment (Wales) Act (2016). Also integrate consideration for Biodiversity / Section 6 / Nature Recovery Assessment.
• Health Impact Assessment – as required by the Health Impact Assessment (Wales) Regulations 2025.
• Non-legislative requirements of assessments relating to 
  
  - Rural Proofing Assessment; 
  - Climate Change Assessment; and 
  - Economic Impact Assessment.

4.3 The integration of these assessments ensures that a collaborative approach is undertaken on different issues, sharing knowledge and recognising links between topics in a consistent and transparent manner. This provides a robust and thorough mechanism for identifying issues and opportunities, assessing impacts including cumulative and indirect effects and undertaking holistic monitoring.

4.4 The ISA will ensure that policies and proposals are informed by relevant information and provide the opportunity for people to get involved. Public consultation is a key part of this process.

4.5 Under an EU Directive, a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is also required to be undertaken for the NDF. The HRA will assess whether the plan is likely to have significant effects on a European site of nature conservation importance in Great Britain or on a European offshore marine site of nature conservation. The process requires the screening and appropriate assessment of options. The NDF will only be able to be adopted if it is found to have no adverse effects on the integrity of the designated sites. If such an effect cannot be ruled out, the NDF should be amended to avoid such effects occurring. It is only in the most exceptional circumstances that the plan may be adopted which is likely to have such an effect. The findings of this work will feed into the ISA of the NDF.

4.6 The ISA and HRA will be undertaken alongside the development of the NDF. The below table shows the key ISA and HRA stages and how they will coincide with the NDF stages as highlighted in the table at para 2.1.