Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The Gwent Levels are one of Wales’ most distinctive landscapes, recognised for their exceptional biodiversity, historic character and vital role in climate adaptation.
The Written Statement: Taking Action to Better Protect and Manage the Gwent Levels (1 July 2021) recognised that despite the Gwent Levels having many statutory and non-statutory designations covering biodiversity, landscape and historic landscape value, it remains vulnerable.
Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 identifies the Gwent Levels as a National Natural Resource Area under Policy 9. In line with this policy, the Welsh Government has prepared and is now consulting on draft Strategic Planning Guidance to strengthen the implementation of Policy 9 and ensure a consistent, evidence‑based approach to planning across the Levels.
The guidance once adopted will supplement Future Wales and alongside Planning Policy Wales will be relevant when preparing development plans and determining planning applications. It does not create new policy or justify development that would otherwise be unacceptable. Instead, it provides the detail needed to safeguard, restore and enhance resilient ecological networks across the Gwent Levels and to ensure that planning decisions contribute positively to biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and long‑term landscape integrity.
A central component of the guidance is a spatial approach, building on strategic mapping to understand ecosystem resilience across the Levels. This includes identifying the National Natural Resource Area, the Core Zone and the Recovery (Opportunity) Zone, each with clear strategic principles and actions. This spatial framework is designed to support nature recovery, strengthen ecological connectivity and direct nature‑based solutions where they can deliver the greatest benefit. It aligns with national commitments, including the delivery of statutory biodiversity targets and the 30 by 30 Global Biodiversity Target.
The draft Strategic Planning Guidance for the Gwent Levels is now available for public consultation. I encourage all stakeholders to contribute their views. This work is essential to ensure that planning decisions across the Levels support a resilient environment, restore ecological networks and secure long‑term benefits for nature and communities.