Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I am today publishing the first 5-year Monitoring & Review Report of Future Wales: the national plan 2040. The Planning (Wales) Act 2015 sets out that a review and statement to the Senedd should be provided as close as possible to the 5th Anniversary of the publication of Future Wales, which was published on 24th February 2021.
Future Wales sets the direction for strategic and local development plans. Whilst the strategic change it seeks to achieve to 2040 will take time, monitoring and reviewing progress towards delivery of its policies and outcomes and assessing if there is a need to change policy approach is important.
This Report therefore seeks to evaluate progress during the first five years of the plan period. Despite a challenging global context since 2021, the findings indicate measurable national progress in areas such as decarbonisation, renewable energy and the delivery of affordable housing. While progress in all areas takes time to achieve, Future Wales continues to provide a sound national spatial foundation to deliver the eleven Future Wales Outcomes by 2040.
The Future Wales Monitoring and Review Report concludes that immediate revision of the plan is not required at this time.