Nick Evans, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, believes that the Welsh government's decision to review all renewable energy applications that have been processed by the Welsh planning system since 2005 risks being flawed in both its timing, as well as its content.
"If the review only looks at those planning applications that were completed, not the ones that are currently in the system, it risks missing out on the most difficult cases" explains Nick Evans.
"Almost by definition the applications that are still 'live' are probably the ones that are 'stuck' and taking the longest time to progress. Clearly, this will clearly skew any results."
"Further, the planning system has just had a significant overhaul where applications for large projects go to the IPC, and as it stands at present, there is only one Welsh renewables application that has been submitted via the new planning system."
"A review of the old system has therefore almost become irrelevant given the new planning regime that's just been put in place. It seems odd timing for the Welsh government to consider the review at this juncture, and it's not clear what they hope to achieve."
The Welsh government's research is being conducted to form the basis of an action plan for the Welsh government, and will determine how long the system has taken to produce decisions as well as looking in depth at several individual cases.
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