Local Environment

Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 19 June 2024.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:21, 19 June 2024

Thank you again for that follow-up question. Again, I can't comment in detail on a matter that's local, and I know that you understand that fully. But we would expect them—whether it was a registered social landlord or a local authority, or anybody else, frankly, bringing forward a scheme—to have to go through the full, proper planning process, the full, proper environmental impact assessments, and to engage with the community as well, in proper consultation and dialogue.

But at some point, as always, Llywydd, some of these may inevitably be lifted up to Cabinet Secretaries and the Welsh Government to look at, so I can't comment in detail. But you are right in what you say: the multiple impacts of developments do need to be considered at the pre-consultation stage, during consultation with communities, when applications come through as well, and ultimately, if they are lifted up to us, so that we can do our proper assessment as well, if any of these projects do come forward.

But I am adamant that, in all of these, the voices of local communities have to be heard. Also, we need to make sure that, from my perspective as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, those issues of biodiversity, the local environment and climate resilience are also taken into account. So, thank you for raising it, again on behalf of local people. You have made sure that their voices are once again heard. 

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