julie james

Welsh housing minister Julie James has introduced emergency temporary permitted development rights to allow local authorities to change the use of buildings without planning permission during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. 

A direction has come into force that requires local planning authorities in Wales to refer certain applications for major residential development to ministers so they can decide whether to call them in for determination.

A consultation has been published on proposals to dispense with the need for planning permission to erect sheds or glasshouses on allotment sites in Wales.

Welsh ministers have introduced legislation that includes measures giving local authorities the powers to apply to merge voluntarily as well as facilitating regional working in areas such as planning, economic development and transport through corporate joint committees.