Community-led Planning in Wales
Place Plans Guidance
Client: Welsh Government / Planning Aid Wales
Place Studio were commissioned by the Welsh Government, through Planning Aid Wales, to build on their commitment to community-led planning by preparing for and drafting all the national advisory material for what are termed ‘Place Plans’. Place Plans are a Welsh equivalent of Neighbourhood Plans, enabling communities to lead on producing and shaping information that will inform and guide planning decisions in their area.
The guidance was developed through research and workshops with officers and community councillors from across Wales and is now available through the Planning Aid website. The Welsh Government are actively supporting and promoting greater levels of community involvement in planning policy and Place Plans are seen as a key way to achieve this.
Following this joint project, Planning Aid Wales invited us to partner with them to tender for a Place Plan project. Together we were appointed to deliver the first full Place Plan under the new regime, for Newtown in mid Wales.
The Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Place Plan was adopted in July 2021, and is now Supplementary Planning Guidance to the Powys Local Development Plan. You can read more about the Place Plan here.
Featured image: Our Town, Our Plan: Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Place Plan 2021-2036
"With Place Studio’s specialist knowledge and guidance, we have been able to enthuse and enlist the help of hundreds of volunteers to help gather high quality evidence for our Place Plan. The principle of Place Plans is for them to be driven by, written by and owned by the local community. Working with Place Studio ensured we were able to make that a reality. They are also a delight to work with, always positive and accommodating!"
Sorelle White, Democratic Services Manager, Newtown