Planning law in Wales is currently hard to understand and navigate. 

It is mainly based on laws passed by the UK Parliament that are decades old and has been significantly changed over time. These changes have made legislation fragmented, complicated and mostly only available in English.

Planning law in Wales is different from the law in England. This can make it harder for people to know which rules apply.

We asked the Law Commission to review Welsh planning law. Their report, Planning Law in Wales, found that the law needs urgent work to make it simpler and more consistent.

We know it’s important for everyone using or working in the planning system to clearly understand the law that applies to them. Our Future of Welsh Law programme aims to bring planning law together and make it easier to access and use.

Purpose of the Bill

The Planning (Wales) Bill will consolidate planning legislation in Wales.

Consolidation will:

bring together the main planning Acts and some subordinate legislation

create a single bilingual Act

modernise the structure and wording of the law to make it easier to understand and use.

Although the structure and wording of the law will change, its legal effect will remain unchanged. Consolidation is a technical process to improve clarity, not to change policy or reform planning law.

Current progress

We have published the draft Planning Bill and explanatory notes in advance of formal introduction in the Senedd. This is to help those with an interest in planning law become familiar with the proposed Bill.

The explanatory notes are designed to help readers understand the Bill. They do not provide a full description of everything the Bill contains.

The cover document: 

sets out why they are being published now and provides guidance on how to read them

highlights key areas of interest in planning, including changes to terminology, structure, and definitions.

Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill

We will also introduce the Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill in September 2025. This Bill is still being prepared. 

In connection with the Planning (Wales) Bill, this Bill will: 

amend and repeal enactments

make transitional and savings provisions.

Next steps

Both Bills and supporting documents will be laid before the Senedd in September 2025. This will allow Senedd Members to scrutinise the legislation.