Proposals for integrating the management of natural resources in Wales, including new duties for local planning authorities, have been announced by the Welsh government, with a closing date of 15 January 2014.
The Welsh Government writes:
This consultation sets out proposals to ensure that we have the right legislative framework in Wales to manage our natural resources in a joined-up way.
This White Paper sets out proposals for the Environment (Wales) Bill. This Bill will ensure that we have the right legislative framework to manage our natural resources in a joined-up way, as committed in the Programme for Government. This includes proposals for a new area-based planning approach to natural resource management. This is intended to complement existing and proposed planning and sustainable development laws to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for Wales.
We held a consultation in 2012 on the ‘Sustaining a Living Wales Green Paper’ which showed broad support for a fresh approach to the planning and management of natural resources in Wales. This White Paper builds on the responses to the Green Paper to set out more fully legislative proposals for natural resource management.
The White Paper sets out how we will take steps to:
· join-up the existing statutory frameworks for natural resource planning and management in Wales
· ensure Natural Resources Wales has the legislative tools to help enable them to implement integrated natural resource management
· take actions to ensure Wales’ natural resources are used to best effect and reduce waste
· simplify, streamline and clarify the law for a number of existing environmental regulatory regimes.
For the ‘Sustaining a Living Wales Green Paper’ see: LINK
Welsh Government Consultations: LINK
Search Planning Resource: LINK
