National Development Framework

60National Development Framework for Wales

1

There must be a plan, prepared and published by the Welsh Ministers, to be known as the National Development Framework for Wales.

2

The Framework must set out such of the policies of the Welsh Ministers in relation to the development and use of land in Wales as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

3

The Framework may specify that development of a particular description, in a particular area or location, is to constitute development of national significance for the purposes of section 62D of the principal Act (development of national significance: applications to be made to Welsh Ministers).

4

The Framework must give reasons for—

a

the policies that it sets out, and

b

any provision that it makes as mentioned in subsection (3).

5

The Framework must explain how, in preparing the Framework, the Welsh Ministers have taken into account relevant policies set out in—

a

any marine plan adopted and published by them under Part 3 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, and

b

the Wales Transport Strategy published under section 2 of the Transport (Wales) Act 2006.

6

The Framework must specify the period for which it is to have effect.

7

A plan ceases to be the National Development Framework for Wales on the expiry of the period specified under subsection (6).

60APreparation of Framework: statement of public participation

1

The Welsh Ministers must prepare and publish a statement of public participation setting out their policies relating to the consultation to be carried out in preparing the National Development Framework for Wales.

2

In particular, the statement must include provision about—

a

the form that the consultation will take,

b

when the consultation will take place, and

c

the steps that will be taken to involve members of the public in the preparation of the Framework.

3

The statement must provide that, as part of the consultation, the Welsh Ministers will—

a

publish a draft of the Framework, and

b

allow a period of 12 weeks beginning with the publication of the draft Framework during which any person may make representations with regard to the draft.

4

The Welsh Ministers may revise the statement, and must publish the statement as revised.

60BProcedure for preparation and publication of Framework

1

Before publishing the National Development Framework for Wales, the Welsh Ministers must—

a

prepare a draft of the Framework,

b

carry out an appraisal of the sustainability of the policies set out in the draft, and

c

carry out consultation in accordance with the statement of public participation.

2

The appraisal under subsection (1)(b) must include an assessment of the likely effects of the policies in the draft Framework on the use of the Welsh language.

3

If, after complying with subsection (1), the Welsh Ministers wish to proceed with the draft of the Framework (with or without changes), they must lay before the National Assembly for Wales—

a

the draft, and

b

a report which—

i

summarises the representations they received during the consultation carried out under subsection (1)(c), and

ii

explains how they have taken the representations into account.

4

The Welsh Ministers must have regard to—

a

any resolution passed by the National Assembly for Wales with regard to the draft Framework during the Assembly consideration period, and

b

any recommendation made by a committee of the National Assembly with regard to the draft during that period.

5

After the expiry of the Assembly consideration period, the Welsh Ministers—

a

may publish the National Development Framework for Wales in the terms of the draft laid under subsection (3), or

b

if they propose to make changes to that draft, may—

i

lay before the National Assembly for Wales an amended draft of the Framework, and

ii

publish the National Development Framework for Wales in the terms of the amended draft.

6

If any resolution was passed or any recommendation was made as mentioned in subsection (4), the Welsh Ministers must also, not later than the day on which the Framework is published, lay before the National Assembly for Wales a statement explaining how they have had regard to the resolution or recommendation.

7

In this section, “the Assembly consideration period” means the period of 60 days beginning with the day on which a draft of the Framework is laid before the National Assembly for Wales under subsection (3), disregarding any time when the National Assembly is dissolved or is in recess for more than four days.

60CReview and revision of Framework

1

The Welsh Ministers must keep the National Development Framework for Wales under review.

2

The Welsh Ministers may revise the Framework at any time, and must publish the Framework as revised.

3

Sections 60A and 60B apply for the purposes of the revision of the Framework, as if references to the Framework (or a draft of the Framework) were references to the Framework as revised (or a draft of the Framework as revised).

4

Subsection (5) applies if the Welsh Ministers, having published a draft of a revised Framework in accordance with the statement of public participation, decide not to proceed with the revision of the Framework.

5

The Welsh Ministers must—

a

publish notice of their decision and the reasons for it, and

b

if a draft of a revised Framework has been laid before the National Assembly for Wales under section 60B(3), lay a copy of the notice before the National Assembly.

6

Subsection (7) applies if—

a

a review period ends, and

b

the Welsh Ministers have not, within that period—

i

published a revised Framework, or

ii

laid a draft revised Framework before the National Assembly for Wales under section 60B(3).

7

As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the review period, the Welsh Ministers must publish and lay before the National Assembly for Wales a statement—

a

setting out their assessment of whether the Framework should be revised and giving reasons for that assessment, and

b

if they consider that the Framework should be revised, setting out a timetable for its revision.

8

For the purposes of subsections (6) and (7)—

a

the first review period—

i

begins with the day on which the Framework is first published, and

ii

ends with the fifth anniversary of the day on which the Framework is first published or, if earlier, with the day on which a revised Framework is published;

b

each subsequent review period—

i

begins with the day after the last day of the preceding review period, and

ii

ends with the fifth anniversary of the last day of the preceding review period or, if earlier, with the day on which a revised Framework is published.