Topics

Planning and development

Planning applications, the local development plan and what can be built where.

This month

Councils have been deciding individual planning applications and progressing local development plan work, including annual monitoring reports due with Welsh Government by 31 October 2026.[1][3]

What's happening

Blaenau Gwent and Powys approved their Annual Monitoring Report 2026 for submission to Welsh Government by 31 October 2026. Carmarthenshire's Cabinet recommended that full Council endorse its own report.[1][3][5]
Torfaen members supported keeping the 2026-2041 plan period for the Joint Local Development Plan with Blaenau Gwent. They generally supported the principle of a joint settlement hierarchy and will consider it further before it is finalised.[8]
Carmarthenshire Council approved four draft Supplementary Planning Guidance documents for six weeks of public consultation. Conwy's Cabinet approved revised local list guidance for a six-week consultation.[6][4]

Pressing issues

Some applications were deferred for site visits. Carmarthenshire deferred a convenience store at Tycroes over highway impact and safety concerns, and Vale of Glamorgan deferred apartments at the Castle Hotel, Barry.[2][7]
Welsh Government research found that 73% of local planning authorities have vacant posts. It says at least 161 additional planners are needed over the next five years.[12]
The research says real terms spending on local planning services fell by 43% between 2009 and 2024. Average cost recovery in development management rose from 46% to 56% over the same period.[12]
High phosphorus levels in river special areas of conservation mean many development proposals need nutrient mitigation measures. Audit Wales also lists phosphate discharge and drainage requirements as potential barriers to new affordable housing.[13][14]

The policy context

The Planning (Wales) Act 2026 became law on 27 April 2026. It was intended to improve legal clarity and usability rather than reform the planning system.[9]
Welsh Government says new Fee Regulations took effect on 1 December 2025 and that it is reintroducing the Performance Framework to monitor local authority performance.[11]
Welsh Government announced £447,400 to train planners. The Mid and West Wales Rural Planners scheme is expected to deliver up to 12 qualified planners over three years (2026-2029).[10]

Written in November 2026 from council records since 20 September 2026, open consultations and official sources. Written automatically, then checked: every point names its sources and every figure appears in them. Follow the links to check anything before relying on it.

Sources

1. Blaenau Gwent meeting, 28 October 2026 Local Development Plan Annual Monitoring Report 2025-26
2. Carmarthenshire meeting, 22 October 2026 Demolish former takeaway and build convenience store, Tycroes
3. Powys meeting, 20 October 2026 Local Development Plan annual monitoring report 2026
4. Conwy meeting, 20 October 2026 Local List of buildings: draft guidance for consultation
5. Carmarthenshire meeting, 19 October 2026 Annual monitoring report on the adopted Local Development Plan
6. Carmarthenshire meeting, 14 October 2026 Draft planning guidance for public consultation
7. Vale of Glamorgan meeting, 8 October 2026 Castle Hotel, Barry: apartments and car parking
8. Torfaen meeting, 7 October 2026 Progress on preparing the Joint Local Development Plan
9. Planning (Wales) Act 2026 - Senedd Business
10. Investment boost to help grow Wales's planning workforce
11. Written Statement: Speeding up planning (20 January 2026)
12. Written Statement: Research Publication
13. Plenary 01/10/2025 - Welsh Parliament
14. Affordable housing September 2024

What councils do

Councils decide planning applications for new buildings, extensions and changes of use, and write the local development plan that says where new homes and jobs can go. National parks decide applications inside their boundaries.

Who decides

Planning officers decide most applications. Larger or disputed ones go to the planning committee of councillors, which meets in public.

Having a say

Anyone can comment on an application while it's open, usually for 21 days. Stick to planning matters such as traffic, design, noise and overlooking.

In numbers

Welsh councils plan to spend £40 per person on this in 2026-27.
It ranges from £13 in Pembrokeshire to £152 in Neath Port Talbot.
Planning applications decided within eight weeks: 45% across Wales.

How each council is doing Planning decisions by authority

By council, last 12 months

How many agenda items on this topic each council dealt with, and how many had a decision recorded.

Council	Items	With a decision
Rhondda Cynon Taf	103	93
Caerphilly	96	0
Gwynedd	65	50
Wrexham	59	43
Pembrokeshire	57	51
Denbighshire	39	33
Carmarthenshire	26	21
Bridgend	24	0
Powys	21	11
Ceredigion	21	12
Neath Port Talbot	20	18
Blaenau Gwent	19	17
Cardiff	19	18
Newport	18	12
Conwy	18	18
Swansea	16	16
Vale of Glamorgan	16	11
Torfaen	14	12
Monmouthshire	13	10
Flintshire	10	6
Merthyr Tydfil	5	5