Welsh Assembly

The legislation devolving further powers to the Welsh Assembly over several key planning and environmental regulation issues had a torrid time during a debate in the Lords this week.

Legislation that overhauls the Welsh planning system and formally makes the Welsh language a material consideration when applications are considered was approved by 39 to 10 votes in the Senedd this week.

The government’s flagship planning legislation made significant progress this week. The Planning (Wales) Bill completed the third stage of its scrutiny by the Welsh Assembly. Still to come is a formal vote on the amended draft bill.

Campaigners have claimed that town and village greens could be destroyed by “draconian" proposals in the government’s Planning Bill.