Welsh Housing Minister gives speech at RTPI Conference

The Welsh Housing Minister, Julie James, made a speech at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru Conference in Cardiff as part of the first anniversary of ‘Planning Policy Wales’, stating that tackling emissions and construction of homes in priority locations needed to be a priority.

Furthermore, the Minister’s speech at the RTPI Conference went on to also state that more homes needed to have built-in walking routes, cycling routes, be powered by renewable energy generation, be heated by renewable energy generation, be energy efficient, have green spaces, and minimise waste.

The Welsh Housing Minister, Julie James stated: “Too often people tell me about the small size and poor build quality of some new homes with the lack of sufficient green infrastructure and the failure to adopt roads and open space.

“So, taking good planning decisions can and must improve people’s lives. This includes both strategic decisions on where to locate new development and local decision on the design and layout of an individual house.

“I want the communities of the future to be places where everyone wants to live. We want people to raise their children and grow old in a community where they feel safe and comfortable, with the sufficient services and facilities which support them through every stage of their lives.

“The Welsh Government wants to ensure the biggest applications for new development coming forward are exemplars of place-making practice, and do not carry on the unsatisfactory practices of the past. If necessary, we will use our planning powers to ensure this.

“I will continue to advocate for the planning system to be central to how we shape places and support more equitable and inclusive communities. The challenge for all of us is to build high quality development in communities that people can be proud to call their home.”

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