With Plaid Cymru emerging as the largest party following last week’s Senedd election, attention is already turning to what this political shift could mean for planning, infrastructure, energy, and development across Wales.
As we prepare to open our new North Wales office in Colwyn Bay ahead of our launch event on 4 June, it feels like a particularly important moment to be expanding our presence in the region.
While detail will emerge over time, several themes are already beginning to take shape:
⚡ A new National Development Framework and updated national strategies for Rural Development and Climate and Nature Recovery Action for Wales .
🔋 A renewed focus on renewable energy delivery, grid infrastructure, and decarbonisation – supported through a National Energy Strategy, a renewable energy sector deal, and greater intervention in infrastructure delivery.
🤝 Greater emphasis on community engagement and community benefit within development.
🏘️ Continued priority being given to housing delivery and affordable homes, including through Unnos – a proposed new national development body.
🚶 More transport-oriented planning, including active travel and targeted infrastructure investment.
🗣️ Continued recognition of the Welsh language within planning policy and community engagement, particularly across Welsh-speaking areas.
“As the policy landscape in Wales continues to evolve, understanding local context will become increasingly important for developers and infrastructure providers,” said Jamie Bradshaw, Wales office lead.
“We’re seeing a growing focus on delivering development in a way that reflects local communities, policy priorities, and cultural context. Our role is helping clients navigate that complexity – from planning and environmental strategy through to stakeholder and Welsh language considerations – to bring forward projects that are both deliverable and locally responsive.”
There are still important questions around how these ambitions will translate into policy and delivery, particularly within the context of a minority government and existing pressures on the planning system.
Even so, the change in government will undoubtedly result in changes to planning in Wales, and it is an exciting time to be growing our presence in the region.
We look forward to continuing the conversation from our new Colwyn Bay office in the months ahead 🌊
If you would like to join us for our North Wales office launch event on 4 June in Deganwy, just drop us a line and we’ll send over an invitation!
