Mark Isherwood
Shadow Housing Minister Mark Isherwood AM has called for the Welsh Housing Minister’s forthcoming Planning Bill to make it easier to convert excess retail property to residential use.
Mr Isherwood said this would help deal with the housing crisis in Wales and reduce the number of boarded up shops in town centres.
Questioning the Minister in the Assembly Chamber, he said: “Given that your forthcoming planning Bill intends to make it easier to encourage housing supply through greater flexibility, and given that we have too few homes, too many boarded up shops and that town centre development already has an infrastructure, what consideration will you give in the Bill to making it easier to convert excess retail property to residential use?”
The Housing Minister, Carl Sargeant AM, replied: “There is already a facility to convert properties from retail into housing provision in current legislation. We will consider that further in the drafting of this new Bill.”
Mr Isherwood told the Minister that there are professional bodies that are very keen to see this strengthened, so that local authorities are compliant.
Mr Isherwood also questioned the Minister over training on the Planning Process for Councillors and Council Officials.
He said: “Within the forthcoming Planning Bill, what consideration will you give to the provision of independent training and refresher training for Councillors and Council Officials on the Planning Process, so that they know where to access Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statements and Welsh Government Planning Guidance, so that they can challenge, if need be, the advice that they are given and so that they know when they can speak out under the Planning Code of Conduct?”
The Minister said he shares Mr Isherwood’s concern around training and skill-based knowledge for both elected members and professionals in the planning process, and is looking at a training package for delivery through the Bill process.
