Gwent Wildlife Trust
 Responding to Planning Applications 

National Planning Policy & Guidance.

Primary legislation, eg. Town & Country Planning Act comes from the UK Government

National planning policy and guidance (Wales) is produced by Welsh Assembly Government and represents Welsh assembly policy.

National planning policy and guidance is a material consideration but is not mandatory. It steers the production of Statutory Development Plans and is also used to determine planning application proposals.

Other policy and guidance takes the form of:

• Government circulars and  Welsh Assembly Government e.g. Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, Housing development. 

• Planning Policy Wales.

• Technical Advice Notices.

• Ministerial Statements.

At public inquiry, the Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister will accord most weight to national planning policy guidance when determining applications.