Planning Applications for Housing Developments

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 29 November 2017.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 2:10, 29 November 2017

Cabinet Secretary, there have been quite a number of significant housing developments, or proposed developments, in the Taff Ely and Pontypridd area. One of the issues, of course, that arises during that process is the capacity in respect of local public services. In particular, I have in mind general practitioner services. Will they be able to cope with the actual additional housing in that particular capacity? 

Now, it seems to me that one of the concerns we've had—and I've heard it expressed by a number of GP practices now—is that they are not statutory consultees in those planning processes. It seems to me, with the scale of housing developments we have, that it's very important that we actually have a review as to who actually are statutory consultees, and that serious consideration should now be given to including bodies like local general practitioner practices to participate within that. It's a directly relevant part of the process and very necessary information to have, but which isn't included as a matter of course at the moment.