Weekly planning news

Welsh Government launches consultation on permitted development rights 

On 8 April, the Welsh Government launched a new consultation proposing a series of changes to permitted development rights, aiming to make the planning system more “efficient, effective and responsive.” 

The proposals focus on updates to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, the legislation that governs what can be built or installed in Wales without the need for a full planning application. 

Key updates include changes to existing rights around domestic heat pumps, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and temporary campsites. In addition, the consultation introduces new permitted development rights for reverse vending machines and temporary affordable housing. 

Reverse vending machines—designed for bottle and can recycling—form part of the groundwork for Wales’ upcoming deposit return scheme, due to launch in 2027. Meanwhile, the new class for affordable housing would allow temporary provision of homes for up to five years, supporting local authorities and housing providers to respond to need more flexibly. 

The consultation is open until 1 July 2025, and full details are available on the Welsh Government website.¹ 

1,070 home high-rise scheme approved by City of Wolverhampton Council

The first phase of a city centre mixed-use development scheme named ‘Smithgate’ has been approved by City of Wolverhampton Council. 

In total the scheme proposes 1,070 homes, 331 in the first phase and a further 739 homes in later phases. 

Alongside the homes there will be commercial uses totalling 1,860 metres of commercial floorspace. 

The scheme was proposed by the English Cities Fund, comprised of Homes England, Legal and General and Muse, who have worked in partnership with the council. This follows the City of Wolverhampton council identifying the area as a ‘strategic brownfield opportunity’. 

A senior planning officer’s report recommends approval citing various benefits of the scheme including the quality of the buildings, the new homes, business space and job creation and improving safety. Finding that these qualities outweigh any harm to heritage assets. 

You can read more about the project on Planning Resource². 

The full report made by the senior planning officer is available on City of Wolverhampton Council’s website.³ 

Onshore Wind will return to NSIPs regime following commons vote

Plans to bring onshore wind projects back under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) regime have been approved by MPs, in a move that aligns with the government’s wider ambitions for net zero and energy security. 

The draft statutory instrument—laid before Parliament on 10 March—proposes amending the 2008 Planning Act to reclassify onshore wind developments with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more as nationally significant. This would streamline the consenting process for major schemes by shifting decision-making to the national level. 

The Commons voted in favour of the measure by 307 to 100, signalling strong support for the change. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed that transitional arrangements will be in place to ensure any projects already progressing through local planning when the order comes into force in December 2025 won't be disrupted or forced to switch regimes mid-process. 

The move follows Labour’s stated commitment to reintegrate onshore wind into the NSIPs regime and reflects proposals first floated during last year’s National Planning Policy Framework consultation. 

With over 50 years of experience in NSIPs and as pioneers of land referencing, TerraQuest provides expert support for DCOs and CPOs. Our deep understanding of land identification, assessment, and acquisition ensures your infrastructure projects move forward with confidence. Visit our website to find out more.⁴

1. https://Welsh%20Government%20Launches%20Consultation%20on%20Permitted%20Development%20Rights%20%20On%208%20April,%20the%20Welsh%20Government%20launched%20a%20new%20consultation%20proposing%20a%20series%20of%20changes%20to%20permitted%20development%20rights,%20aiming%20to%20make%20the%20planning%20system%20more%20%E2%80%9Cefficient,%20effective%20and%20responsive.%E2%80%9D%20%20The%20proposals%20focus%20on%20updates%20to%20the%20Town%20and%20Country%20Planning%20(General%20Permitted%20Development)%20Order%201995,%20the%20legislation%20that%20governs%20what%20can%20be%20built%20or%20installed%20in%20Wales%20without%20the%20need%20for%20a%20full%20planning%20application.%20%20Key%20updates%20include%20changes%20to%20existing%20rights%20around%20domestic%20heat%20pumps,%20electric%20vehicle%20(EV)%20charging%20infrastructure,%20and%20temporary%20campsites.%20In%20addition,%20the%20consultation%20introduces%20new%20permitted%20development%20rights%20for%20reverse%20vending%20machines%20and%20temporary%20affordable%20housing.%20%20Reverse%20vending%20machines%E2%80%94designed%20for%20bottle%20and%20can%20recycling%E2%80%94form%20part%20of%20the%20groundwork%20for%20Wales%E2%80%99%20upcoming%20deposit%20return%20scheme,%20due%20to%20launch%20in%202027.%20Meanwhile,%20the%20new%20class%20for%20affordable%20housing%20would%20allow%20temporary%20provision%20of%20homes%20for%20up%20to%20five%20years,%20supporting%20local%20authorities%20and%20housing%20providers%20to%20respond%20to%20need%20more%20flexibly.%20%20The%20consultation%20is%20open%20until%201%20July%202025,%20and%20full%20details%20are%20available%20on%20the%20Welsh%20Government%20website./
2. https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planningresource.co.uk.mcas.ms%2Farticle%2F1913417%2Fofficers-approve-plan-1070-home-high-rise-city-centre-scheme-co-submitted-local-authority%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&McasCSRF=de5960ebbe5d877ff89ff1101d800612e2dd4104d13943597583cd60ecdf3d1d
3. https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fplanningonline.wolverhampton.gov.uk.mcas.ms%2Fonline-applications%2FapplicationDetails.do%3FactiveTab%3Ddocuments%26keyVal%3DSMW3DLRW0OM00%26McasTsid%3D15600&McasCSRF=de5960ebbe5d877ff89ff1101d800612e2dd4104d13943597583cd60ecdf3d1d
4. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/products-services/land-referencing