Preferred Strategy

3. National, Regional and Local Policy Context

3.1 National Context

Legislation

Planning (Wales) Act 2015

This Act set out a series of legislative changes to reform the planning system in Wales to ensure it is fair, resilient and enables development. A key objective of the Act was to strengthen the plan-led approach by introducing a legal basis for the preparation of a National Development Framework -published as Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 (published February 2021) and regional Strategic Development Plans (SDP). It confirmed the statutory purpose of the planning system in Wales stating that any statutory body carrying out a planning function must exercise those functions in accordance with the principles of sustainable development as set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The Replacement LDP will be required to demonstrate compliance with this duty.

Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015

This Act places a duty on public bodies to carry out sustainable development. The Act has established seven well-being goals: A Prosperous Wales; A Resilient Wales; A Healthier Wales; A More Equal Wales; A Wales of Cohesive Communities; A Wales of Vibrant Culture and Thriving Welsh Language; A Globally Responsible Wales.

Public bodies are also required to have regard to the five ways of working contained in the Act which are involvement, collaboration, integration, prevention, and long-term factors.

The Environment (Wales) Act 2016

This Act introduced new legislation for the environment and provides an iterative framework, which ensures that managing Wales' natural resources sustainably will be a core consideration in decision-making. It includes an enhanced biodiversity duty which requires public authorities to maintain and enhance biodiversity and to promote the resilience of ecosystems.

Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013

The Active Travel (Wales) Act aims to promote walking and cycling as an attractive mode of transport for purposeful journeys i.e. to access work, school or shops and services. It seeks to instil a lasting transformation of how developments are planned to incorporate walking and cycling infrastructure from the outset as well as encouraging long-term behaviour change.

The Act places a legal duty upon local authorities to plan for suitable routes for active travel, produce active travel maps, consider the needs of pedestrians and cyclists and to deliver improvements in active travel routes and facilities.

Socio-economic Duty (March 2021)

The Socio-economic Duty within the Equality Act 2010 came into force in Wales on 31^st March 2021 and is aimed at encouraging better decision making and reducing inequalities resulting from socio-economic disadvantage. The Socio-economic Duty requires relevant public bodies when taking strategic decisions, for example associated with strategic policy development and development plans, to have due regard to the need to reduce the inequalities of outcome that result from socio-economic disadvantage. Relevant public bodies should evidence a clear audit trail for all decisions made under the duty, using existing processes, such as impact assessment processes and systems for engagement. The Welsh Government has published statutory guidance and resources to support public bodies in meeting the requirements of the Socio-economic Duty.

Public Health Wales (Act) 2017

This Act makes changes to the law in Wales to improve health and prevent avoidable health harms. It sets out provisions for making improvements to health including for the Welsh Ministers to publish a national strategy on tackling obesity and to make regulations about the carrying out of Health Impact Assessments (HIA) by public bodies. The Act defines a HIA as an assessment of the likely effect, both in the short term and in the long term, of a proposed action or decision on the physical and mental health of the people of Wales or of some of the people of Wales. Regulations are due to be published to specify when a HIA is required to be carried out by public bodies and how it should be undertaken. The LPA will have regard to any regulations and guidance in respect of HIA as part of the Impact Sustainability Appraisal process associated with the Replacement LDP.

Infrastructure (Wales) Bill 2023

The Infrastructure (Wales) Bill, which has passed through the Senedd, introduces a simplified process to consent major infrastructure projects in Wales and will replace the Development of National Significance (DNS) regime. The Bill establishes a new regime that adopts a 'one-stop shop approach' where consents and other permissions can be sought in one application and decision-making process. The new form of consent will be known as 'Infrastructure Consent' and will be required for Significant Infrastructure Projects, including energy, transport, waste and water projects.

Welsh Language Education Bill 2024

A Welsh Language Education Bill is expected to be passed in 2024. The Bill has arisen from the outcomes of the 2021 Census which indicated a need to tackle a two-fold challenge: firstly, to grow the numbers of people who can speak Welsh across Wales, and secondly to protect Welsh-speaking communities with higher percentages of Welsh speakers which have shown a decline. The Bill intends to introduce 'transformational changes to the way we think about the Welsh language and the role of education in this context', and would include the target for one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

Policy

Planning Policy Wales

Planning Policy Wales (PPW) sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Government. It comprises national planning policy. The primary objective of PPW is to ensure that the planning system contributes towards the delivery of sustainable development and improves the social, economic, environmental and cultural well‑being of Wales, as required by the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the Well‑being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and other key legislation and resultant duties.

PPW is kept under review by Welsh Government and recent updates have promoted the concept of Placemaking, ensured alignment with Future Wales - the National Plan 2040. In February 2024, Edition 12 of PPW was published and incorporated changes to Chapter 6 on Distinctive and Natural Places, Chapter 4 regarding second homes and short-term lets, and support for community-led housing as a form of affordable housing.

Technical Advice Notes, Circulars and Policy Clarification Letters

The Replacement LDP will consider the requirements as set out within the series of Technical Advice Notes (TANs), Circulars and Policy Clarification Letters, which expand on a range of planning policy issues.

Future Wales – National Development Plan 2040

Future Wales – the National Plan 2040 is the national development framework, setting the direction for development in Wales to 2040. It is a development plan with a strategy for addressing key national priorities through the planning system, including sustaining and developing a vibrant economy, achieving decarbonisation and climate-resilience, developing strong ecosystems and improving the health and well-being of Wales' communities.

As the national development framework, Future Wales is the highest tier of development plan and is focused on solutions to issues and challenges at a national scale. It is a framework which will be built on by Strategic Development Plans (SDPs) at a regional level and LDPs at local authority level. SDPs and LDPs are required to be in conformity with Future Wales and must be kept up to date to ensure they and Future Wales work together effectively. Planning decisions at every level of the planning system in Wales must be taken in accordance with the development plan as a whole.

Future Wales sets out 18 national policies that apply across the whole of Wales and three policies that apply to the Mid Wales Region. Whilst all the policies will need to be addressed by the Replacement LDP, the following policies have particular importance.

Policy 1 - Where Wales will grow is supported by a spatial strategy diagram that identifies that the Powys LPA area is located within the Mid Wales Region. The policy introduces Regional Growth Areas and two of the five within the Mid Wales Region are wholly within the Powys LPA area. Policy 1 requires that the Regional Growth Areas will grow, develop and offer a variety of public and commercial services at regional scale. It also requires development in towns and villages in rural areas to be of appropriate scale and support local aspirations and needs.

Policy 2 - Shaping Urban Growth and Regeneration - Strategic Placemaking sets out the key placemaking principles that should be considered when determining the location of new development. This includes creating a mix of uses and variety of house types and tenures, building places at a walkable scale with homes, local facilities, and public transport within walking distance and ensuring development is built at appropriate densities with green infrastructure incorporated.

Policy 4 - Supporting Rural Communities requires LDPs to identify their rural communities, assess their needs and set out policies to support them. It also requires policies to consider how age balanced communities can be achieved, where depopulation should be reversed and consider the role of new affordable and market housing, employment opportunities, local services and greater mobility in tackling these challenges.

Policy 5 - Supporting the Rural Economy supports sustainable, appropriate and proportionate economic growth in rural towns that is planned and managed through Strategic and Local Development Plans. It requires plans to plan positively to meet the employment needs of rural areas.

Policy 6 - Town Centre First requires that significant new commercial, retail, education, health, leisure, and public service facilities must be located within town centres.

Policy 7 - Delivering Affordable Homes reflects Welsh Government's aim to increase the delivery of affordable homes. It requires planning authorities to explore all opportunities to increase the supply of affordable housing and to identify sites for affordable housing led developments.

Policy 8 - Flooding recognises that flood risk is a constraining factor to development and that there are parts of the Regional Growth Areas that are susceptible to flooding. Places that are not at risk of flooding should be prioritised within Regional Growth Areas.

Policy 9 - Resilient Ecological Networks and Green Infrastructure areas and opportunities are required to be identified and included in development plan strategies and policies, in order to promote and safeguard the functions and opportunities they provide.

Policy 12 - Regional Connectivity sets out that LPAs must maximise opportunities arising from the investment in public transport when planning for growth and regeneration. Planning authorities must integrate site allocations, new development, and infrastructure with active travel networks and, where appropriate, ensure new development contributes towards their expansion and improvement.

Policy 25 - Regional Growth Areas - Mid Wales identifies Regional Growth Areas in Mid Wales and requires development in these areas to meet the regional housing, employment and social needs of Mid Wales. It identifies two Regional Growth Areas wholly in the Replacement LDP area, Bro Hafren and The Heart of Wales, with Brecon and the Border providing important services to some settlements in the south of the plan area.

Policy 26 - Growing the Mid Wales Economy supports the growth and development of existing and new economic opportunities across the region based on traditional rural enterprises and modern, innovative and emerging technologies and sectors.

Policy 27 - Movement in Mid Wales requires LDPs to support improved transport links within the region and with other regions and England. LPAs should plan growth and regeneration to maximise the potential opportunities arising from better regional connectivity.

Guidance

Development Plans Manual Edition 3 (March 2020)

The Development Plans Manual was updated in March 2020 to take account of significant changes to planning legislation and national policy.

The Manual is not national policy but it provides guidance on the preparation and implementation of development plans. It should be read alongside PPW and other relevant legislation and guidance, and contains practical guidance on how to prepare, monitor and revise a development plan, underpinned by robust evidence to ensure that plans are effective and deliverable and contribute to placemaking.

Other related documents

Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales (2019)

This Plan sets out the Welsh Government's approach to cut emissions and increase energy efficiency in a way that maximises wider benefits for Wales, ensuring a fairer and healthier society. It sets out policies and proposals that are intended to reduce emissions and support the growth of the low carbon economy.

Of particular relevance for planning are the targets and policies introduced for the following sectors: Power; Buildings; Transport; Industry; Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry; Agriculture; and Waste Management.

Welsh National Marine Plan (2019)

The Welsh National Marine Plan was published in November 2019 to support the sustainable development of the seas around Wales, covering inshore and offshore areas for the next 20 years. It sets out the Welsh Government's ambitions for the future use of marine natural resources and how various users of the seas should interact and consider each other's activities and future plans.

The Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) requires public authorities to take relevant authorisation or enforcement decisions in accordance with the Welsh National Marine Plan unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise. Public authorities are also required to have regard to the appropriate marine policy documents in making any decision which relates to the exercise of any function capable of affecting the whole or any part of the UK marine area.

Second State of Natural Resources Report (December 2020)

The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires LPAs to have regard to the State of Natural Resources Report(SoNaRR) published by Natural Resources Wales, and this provides an evidence base for LPAs when revising LDPs. The second report builds on the evidence base in the first SoNaRR, 2016 and illustrates some of the key challenges, priorities and opportunities for the sustainable management of natural resources. It is framed around the twin challenges of the nature and climate change emergencies that Wales faces. It also identifies three areas for transformative change – the food, energy and transport systems and sets out a range of opportunities for action to move towards a sustainable future.

Llwybr Newydd – A Transport Strategy for Wales (2021)

The Transport Strategy for Wales sets out the Welsh Government's vision for how the transport system can help deliver priorities for Wales. It sets out the short-term priorities for five years and long-term ambitions for 20 years, along with nine mini plans explaining how they will be delivered for different transport modes and sectors. The strategy requires governments, local authorities, transport providers (both commercial and third sector) and colleagues in other policy areas to work together to ensure that transport contributes to the current and future well-being of Wales. This national strategy sets the framework for the two tiers of transport plans in Wales – the National Transport Finance Plan and Joint Local Transport Plans. The strategy and policies of the Replacement LDP will need to be consistent with these plans and strategies.

Building Better Places: The Planning System Delivering Resilient and Brighter Futures – Placemaking and the Covid-19 Recovery (July 2020)

Building Better Places sets out the planning policy priorities of the Welsh Government in the post Covid-19 recovery phases. The document outlines the need for good, high quality developments which are guided by placemaking principles. It acknowledges that delivery of good places at this time require Planners to be creative and dynamic.

Building Better Places identifies 8 key issues which bring individual policy areas together to ensure that action is the most effective:

• Staying local: creating neighbourhoods
• Active travel: exercise and rediscovered transport methods
• Revitalising our town centres
• Digital places - the lockdown lifeline
• Changing working practices: our future need for employment land
• Reawakening Wales' tourism and cultural sectors
• Green infrastructure, health and well-being and ecological resilience
• Improving air quality and soundscapes for better health and well-being

Each issue draws out important points within PPW and includes a commentary on specific aspects of the post potential Covid-19 pandemic situation.

3.2 Regional Context

Mid Wales Growth Deal

The Mid Wales region was invited by the UK Government and the Welsh Government in 2017 to develop a Growth Deal. The Deal aims to bring prosperity to the communities and businesses of the region alongside a range of other strategies and investments from public and private sectors.

The Growth Deal is being brought forward in the form of a Portfolio. In September 2021, the Growing Mid Wales Board approved the Portfolio Business Case. The Portfolio's framework for the Growth Deal and initial set of Programmes and Projects were reviewed by the UK and Welsh Government. This Portfolio provides a framework for the Growth Deal and has been scoped from the eight broad strategic growth priority areas identified by the 'Vision for Growing Mid Wales' published by the Growing Mid Wales Partnership in May 2020. It identifies three projects in Powys – eco-training at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Elan Valley Lakes project and restoration of the Montgomery Canal. Other regional programme and projects aim to boost the following Strategic Growth Priority areas:

• Applied Research and Innovation
• Agriculture, Food and Drink
• Strengthened Tourism Offer
• Digital
• Supporting Enterprise

In January 2022, the Final Deal Agreement of the Mid Wales Growth Deal was signed by the Welsh Government, UK Government, Powys County Council and Ceredigion County Council. It marks the commitment of all partners to deliver the Mid Wales Growth Deal, a ground-breaking partnership bringing a combined investment of £110 million from UK and Welsh Government, which is expected to lever in significant additional investment from other public and private sources maximising the impact in the Mid Wales region.

The proposals set out to Government demonstrate the potential outcomes that are achievable in Mid Wales through Growth Deal investment:

1. To create between 1,100 and 1,400 new jobs in Mid Wales through the Growth Deal by 2032.

2. To support a net additional Gross Value Added uplift of between £570 million and £700 million for the Mid Wales Economy through the Growth Deal by 2032.

3. To deliver a total investment of up to £400 million in the Mid Wales Economy through the Growth Deal by 2032.

Growing Mid Wales Partnership

Growing Mid Wales is a regional partnership that was established in 2015 to progress jobs, growth and the wider economy in Mid Wales. It comprises of representative bodies and key stakeholders from private, public and voluntary services across the region. The initiative seeks to represent the region's interest and priorities for improvement to the local economy.

In February 2019, Growing Mid Wales published "Strategic Economic Priorities for the Mid Wales Region", which aims to deliver growth across the region over the next 15 years. It outlines the priority programme required to deliver sustainable economic growth, more productive jobs and support prosperous communities in Mid Wales by 2033. It is intended as a living document that will be reviewed on a regular basis to guide future investment.

In May 2020, the Partnership published 'A Vision for Growing Mid Wales Strategic Economic Plan and Growth Deal Roadmap'. This document is divided into two sections. The first section sets out the economic strategy for Mid Wales and outlines a vision of how the Partnership want to see Mid Wales' economy grow as a place to live, work and visit over the next 15 years. It sets out regionally agreed priorities that will establish a framework and conditions for future investment, based on detailed evidence and understanding of the needs of businesses and residents within the region. The Plan will be delivered through a range of funding opportunities including the Mid Wales Growth Deal. The second section set out the intended roadmap to bring forward a Growth Deal for Mid Wales with both UK and Welsh Governments. The roadmap has been developed to ensure the right investments come forward that will deliver the Partnership's vision and make a genuine difference to the Mid Wales' economy.

Mid Wales Energy Strategy (2020)

In 2020, the Mid Wales Energy Strategy was developed by Growing Mid Wales Partnership, Powys County Council and Ceredigion County Council. The Strategy sets out a vision for Mid Wales to achieve a net zero-carbon energy system that delivers social and economic benefits, eliminates fuel poverty, better connects Mid Wales to the rest of the UK, and contributes to wider UK decarbonisation. The Strategy sets out six key priorities:

• Drive forward the decarbonisation of the region's housing and building stock.
• Work proactively to ensure that electricity and gas grids in the region are suitable for a 100% decarbonised future.
• Boost the use of renewable energy through new generation and storage.
• Accelerate the shift to zero carbon transport and improve connectivity.
• Develop and harness the potential of agriculture to contribute to zero carbon goals.
• Harness innovation to support decarbonisation and clean growth.

Mid Wales Area Statement (March 2020)

The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 required Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to prepare and publish regional statements, referred to as "Area Statements", for the areas of Wales that it considers appropriate for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of the national Natural Resources Policy. Area Statements outline the key challenges facing the respective region, what collectively can be done to meet those challenges, and how natural resources can be better managed for the benefit of future generations.

The Powys LPA area is within the Mid Wales Area Statement region which also includes the LPA areas for Ceredigion and the BBNP. It sets the following five themes for the Mid Wales area:

• Improving biodiversity – responding to the nature emergency.
• Sustainable land, water and air.
• Reconnecting people and places – improving health, well-being and the economy.
• Forest resources – managing timber resources effectively.
• Climate emergency – adaptation and mitigation.

Area statements are a key piece of evidence for LPAs to consider in preparing their LDPs. They provide evidence of environmental and natural resources issues and should be used as part of the evidence base for the Replacement LDP and when fulfilling the LPA's duty to maintain and enhance biodiversity in exercising its planning functions.

Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee

The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (January 2021) created four mandatory Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) covering the four regions of Wales. Each CJC has a statutory duty to prepare a Strategic Development Plan (SDP) and the Mid Wales CJC covers Ceredigion, Powys including the area of the BBNP within Powys.

The Town and Country Planning (Strategic Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations (SI 2021/360) came into force on 28 February 2022, which set out the procedure for the preparation of strategic development plans (SDPs).

Regional collaboration

As a consequence of its location, 10 LPAs adjoin Powys. The majority of the population has links with towns and cities outside of Powys for a range of services including health, education, retail and job opportunities. Such links include those to Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea, Wrexham, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford and in some cases cities further away such as Birmingham and Manchester.

Figure 4 is taken from Future Wales and shows the key connections between settlements within the Mid Wales region and highlights the direction people travel for services outside of the area. It also identifies the Regional Growth Areas.^[13]

Figure 4 – Mid Wales, Regional Strategic Diagram (Future Wales)

To date, the Powys LPA has worked with the other authorities in the Mid Wales Region and beyond on the following pieces of evidence:

• Regular meetings with planning, housing and research colleagues at BBNP Authority and Ceredigion Local Authority to discuss issues and progress with the new LHMA process.
• Working with authorities within the Mid and South-West Wales Region on the development of a development viability model for site-specific and high-level viability assessments.
• Powys LPA, Ceredigion LPA, BBNP Authority and Welsh Government jointly commissioned a Mid Wales Region Employment Sites and Premises Needs and Action Plan to inform the Mid Wales Growth Deal.
• Powys LPA, Ceredigion LPA and BBNP Authority jointly commissioned a Strategic Flood Consequences Assessment.

The Replacement LDP cluster analysis identified functional linkages between settlements in the south of the Powys LPA area and larger settlements within the BBNP, namely Brecon, Talgarth and Hay on Wye.

South Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party – Regional Technical Statement Second Review (December 2020)

Powys County Council is the Mineral Planning Authority for the county of Powys, excluding the area within the BBNP, and has endorsed the Regional Technical Statement (Aggregates) Second Review 2020 (RTS2). PPW requires that each Mineral Planning Authority prepares to meet local, regional and UK needs for the supply of minerals. For the purposes of commercial stability, the aggregates industry requires a proven and viable landbank.

RTS2 calculates that Powys has crushed rock reserves of 139.24 million tonnes which equates to a landbank of 39.6 years, which meets and exceeds the identified need for a 25-year landbank as specified by PPW and Minerals Technical Advice Note (MTAN) 1. The data demonstrated a surplus of crushed rock supply so there is no requirement for new allocations in the future. The Powys apportionment for land-won sand and gravel was identified as Nil in RTS2 so again there is currently no future requirement for sand and gravel aggregate allocations.

3.3 Local Context

Powys County Council Corporate Plan (February 2023)

The Corporate and Strategic Equality Plan 2023-2027 was approved by Full Council in February 2023. It sets out the following priorities:

• Stronger - We will become a county that succeeds together, with communities and people that are well connected socially, and are personally and economically resilient.
• Fairer - We will be an open, well-run Council where people's voices are heard and help to shape our work and priorities, with fairer, more equal, access to services and opportunities. We will work to tackle poverty and inequality to support the well-being of the people of Powys.
• Greener - We want to ensure a greener future for Powys, where our well-being is linked to that of the natural world, and our response to the climate and nature emergencies is at the heart of everything we do.

The objectives, detailed in the plan, focus on areas to improve or develop to make people's lives better, both as individuals and as communities. The core aims of the Plan are:

1. To improve people's awareness of services, and how to access them, so that they can make informed choices.
2. To support good quality, sustainable, employment, providing training opportunities, and pursuing real living wage employer accreditation.
3. To work to tackle poverty and inequality to support the well-being of the people of Powys.

The Public Service Board (PSB) Local Well-Being Plan (June 2023)

A Local Well-being Plan - 2040: A Fair, Sustainable and Healthy Powys - was approved by the Powys PSB in June 2023. It contains three local objectives and three well-being steps to achieve the objectives.

The three well-being objectives are:

• People in Powys will live happy, healthy, and safe lives.
• Powys is a county of sustainable places and communities.
• An increasingly effective Public Service for the people of Powys.

The three well-being steps are:

• Responding to the Climate Emergency.
• Taking a whole systems approach to healthy weight.
• Shaping the future by improving our understanding of what matters to the people of Powys through evidence and insight.

Climate Emergency (September 2020)

Powys County Council declared a climate emergency on 24^th September 2020. This included an ambition to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, in line with the Welsh public sector target. The Council is working to reduce carbon emissions as follows.

• As a partner on the Powys PSB, the Council is contributing towards the preparation of a county wide Carbon Positive Strategy.
• Funding work in the community on climate change and supporting the local economy through the Arwain Leader Programme.
• Coordinating the preparation of a Mid Wales Energy Strategy on behalf of the Growing Mid Wales Partnership.
• Improving waste and recycling services.
• Installing EV Charging points in communities.
• Installing solar panels on schools and buildings.
• Constructing energy-efficient homes and schools.
• Providing new infrastructure to encourage cycling and walking and the use of public transport.

A Strategy for Climate Change – Net Positive Powys 2021-2030

The Strategy for Climate Change sets out a framework of actions to enable Powys County Council to meet the challenges of climate change. It sets the vision for where Powys County Council wants to be in 2030 and how it aims to achieve the goal of being net carbon zero by 2030. By achieving this goal, Powys County Council will contribute to:

• Tackling the climate emergency.
• Cutting emissions by at least 95% in Wales by 2050.
• Making the public sector in Wales net carbon zero by 2030 as outlined in Welsh Governments Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales delivery plan.

Nature Emergency (October 2022)

Powys County Council declared a Nature Emergency on 13th October 2022. It resolved to:

1. Declare a Nature Emergency as demonstration of the Council's commitment to protecting and rejuvenating Powys' natural environment for its inherent value, for the role nature plays in achieving a vibrant and viable economy and for the benefits nature provides to the wellbeing of our county's residents.
2. Establish meaningful supportive structures that embed nature in decision making including:

1. Establish a cross-party Nature Emergency Working Group within the Council to help embed biodiversity in Council decision making, it's engagement in partnerships and its ambitions for county-wide nature recovery.
2. Appointment of a Council Member as a champion for nature as allowed for by this Council's constitution.
3. Actively seek to secure the funding from external new resources for a dedicated and permanent Nature Recovery County Council Officer, between them to help drive nature recovery within the Council and to animate action amongst stakeholders, seeking new external funds to help enable the delivery of nature recovery.
4. Reaffirm the Council's support for the Local Nature Partnership and to actively encourage and enable its development as an independent stakeholder group to represent those who manage nature alongside those who use and / or benefit from nature.

3. Take meaningful action to help achieve a net increase in nature county-wide including:

1. To draw up a response – outlining the Council's role – to the recently published Powys Nature Recovery Plan produced by Powys Local Nature Partnership and which sets out actions needed to protect and conserve existing systems and to restore nature at a scale and pace commensurate with the threats it faces.
2. To show meaningful leadership by reviewing how the Council's assets and services can be more fully harnessed for reversing our county's loss of nature. An immediate priority to be the County Farm Estates. To then extend this as resources allow to review all services the Council provides such as Planning (exploring opportunities afforded by the review of the adopted LDP to implement the motion for example), Procurement (a lot of nature's recovery can be aided by what and how we consume for example), Highways (further adoption of roadside verges as nature reserves), Education Services (skills development, school grounds), Countryside (parks management for example), etc.

Powys Nature Recovery Action Plan (March 2022)

The Powys Nature Recovery Action Plan (PNRAP), adopted by the Council in March 2022, is a 10-year aspirational plan that will assist the Council to deliver its obligations under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It builds on the Powys Local Biodiversity Action Plan, updating actions to reflect the current situation. It is primarily intended to guide the work of the Powys Nature Partnership, a group of organisations and individuals including Powys County Council committed to reversing the decline in biodiversity across Powys. The BBNP Authority has its own Local Nature Partnership and Nature Recovery Action Plan.

The PNRAP focuses on developing resilient ecological networks - also known as nature recovery networks - and takes an ecosystem approach, meaning that it is designed to delivery biodiversity action at a larger scale than a single species or habitat and takes account of the needs of people at the same time. Progress towards the delivery of the plan will be monitored through an annual high-level report by the Partnership.

Water Quality in Riverine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

On 17th December 2020, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) advised that designated riverine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) water bodies within the River Wye SAC were failing to meet phosphorus limits which had been tightened in 2016 by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). This was followed by a further letter from NRW on 20th January 2021, following publication of the condition status report for other riverine SACs in Wales including the Usk, Dee and Towy, the catchments of which are partly within the Powys LDP area. The Usk and Wye catchments cover almost the entirety of the southern half of Powys.

NRW also issued Interim Planning Advice in December 2020 which has been updated since. New development within SAC catchments must achieve nutrient (phosphate) neutrality which acts as a constraint to development. Development is able to connect to a Waste-Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) with phosphorous reduction technology installed and where capacity exists within the limits of an Environmental Permit for a WWTWs.

This constraint is a significant consideration in the preparation of the Replacement LDP and its strategy.

Town Centre Investment Plans / Placemaking Plans

In 2022, Powys County Council commissioned consultants to prepare Town Centre Investment Plans for ten market towns in Powys as part of a regeneration programme for the county. The Town Centre Investment Plans have been prepared in conjunction with the local Town Councils and include a vision and priorities for each Town's future. The Investment Plans are used to help attract and shape investment and support the vitality of the town and its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Each Plan has a town centre focus whilst taking into consideration the importance and influence of the opportunities found within the wider area. The Plans have identified and include priorities, actions and projects that will need to be taken into consideration in the Replacement LDP.

The ten towns with Town Centre Investment Plans are: Builth Wells, Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Llanidloes, Llanwrtyd Wells, Machynlleth, Presteigne, Rhayader, Welshpool, Ystradgynlais.

Placemaking Plans which will serve a similar purpose are also being undertaken for: Montgomery, Llanfyllin.

Newtown already has a Place Plan in place, which was adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance in July 2021, whilst Llanfair Caereinion has its own Town Plan.

Local Area Energy Plan

Powys County Council is currently developing a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) in collaboration with stakeholders from across Mid Wales. This is a data driven approach which sets out to improve the understanding of how a local area is likely to decarbonise its energy sector. LAEP modelling includes everything from energy supply and demand to transport, buildings and industry.

An output of the LAEP will be a spatial plan which will identify: what the solutions are, where they should be deployed, how much they will cost, when they should be pursued and by whom. The solutions are likely to be a mixture of:

• Grid infrastructure investment.
• Low-carbon technologies e.g. renewable electricity generation, heat pumps, electric vehicles.
• Solutions which reduce energy demand e.g. energy efficiency measures, active travel.

Vision for Developing Fully Bilingual Learners in Powys (December 2020)

In December of 2020, Powys County Council published its 'Vision for Developing Fully Bilingual Learners in Powys'. This document forms the basis of the Powys Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) 2022-2032. The WESP is a statutory plan for ensuring well planned provision for increasing the opportunities for a growing number of children and young people in Powys to become fully bilingual.

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