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Update from our Chief Executive

I am writing to update you about changes to Planning Aid Wales’ operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • All PAW face-to-face events have been cancelled and no further events will be scheduled until further notice.
  • The staff team will remain working remotely and telephone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.
  • The PAW helpline will remain open. (02920 625000)

On a positive note, Planning Aid Wales was and is on the cusp of launching a new online training platform – more news on this will follow in April.  We will also be looking to schedule live webinars soon.  If you are interested in assisting with these activities, please do let us know.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected] or on 02920 625004

Thanks for your ongoing support and stay safe,

James Davies
Chief Executive

Building a Child Friendly Cardiff & the Vale

Public Health Wales recently hosted a symposium – “Building a Child Friendly Cardiff and Vale”. The successful inaugural event focused on agencies working together to ensure children and young people’s voices are heard and to increase and promote child friendly environments in places and spaces where they live.

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Planning Aid Wales celebrates 40 years

Planning Aid Wales celebrated its 40th Anniversary at a special event held in the Senedd this October.

Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government, hosted the event and delivered an excellent keynote speech emphasising the importance of community engagement in the planning system.

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Community Benefits of Planning and Section 106 Agreements

On the 14th March 2019 the Planning Aid Wales team travelled to Colwyn Bay to host the fourth in this year’s series of Network Events.  The event focused on the Community Benefits of Planning and S106 Agreements.  Delegates attended from a number of different Town and Community Councils across the North Wales region together with Regeneration Officers from the local Council.

Speakers presented different perspectives which helped build a shared understanding of issues surrounding S106.   Karen Probert and James Davies from Planning Aid Wales both gave introductory talks and set the scene.

David Delaney, Law Consultant, Aaron and Partners presented the legal framework around S106 and CIL including information on trigger points for planning contributions, pooling restrictions and the various limitations encountered.

Rhys Davies, Director, Cadnant Planning provided a developer’s perspective and highlighted the importance of Place Plans in the process.  Place Plans help developers gain greater certainty in the planning process.  It was suggested that developers are more likely to have successful dialogue with a community who have worked on a Place Plan as they are seen as pro-active and have a good understating of how they wish planning contributions to assist their communities.

 

Emma Price, Director from Studio Response presented a wide range of case studies from her public art experiences and how creative place making can be achieved though S106 contributions.  Emma explained the importance of getting artists involved at the pre-application stage and discussed the way in which artists uncover the history of a place to develop site specific and place responsive artwork.

 

The event closed with a practical and interactive workshop session where delegates considered a range of different project types that could be recommend at the pre-application stage for S106 contribution.