A CALL has been made by local Senedd Member Paul Davies for the Welsh Government to urgently clarify the position on planning developments within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), following growing concern among local businesses in west Wales. Local planning authorities are adopting a precautionary approach to applications, following a letter that they have received from Natural Resources Wales (NRW). This approach is being taken despite the absence of any formal published planning guidance. As a result, any planning application that shows potential runoff into a SAC will not be determined until NRW releases updated guidance. This has led to confusion and delays, even though developments have previously been approved under existing NRW protocols. Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Mr Davies said: “This uncertainty is having a serious impact in west Wales. Local businesses are facing uncertainty and delays that could threaten jobs and investment. We cannot afford to let planning authorities be paralysed by a lack of clear direction. “I’ve raised this issue at the Senedd and called for an urgent statement from the Welsh Government to clarify the situation and ensure NRW provides updated guidance to planning authorities. We need to see swift action, as without it, developments will be stalled, businesses will suffer, and jobs could be at risk.”
