First steps made towards revised National Development Framework for Wales
The Welsh government has launched a consultation seeking views on the revision of the National Development Framework (NDF), intended to replace the current version – known as Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 – published in February 2021.
The NDF is the national level statutory development plan in Wales, following the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 which created a legal requirement for Welsh ministers to prepare and publish a NDF setting out policies in relation to the development and use of land in Wales. The NDF provides the framework for Strategic Development Plans and Local Development Plans, as well as identifying strategic locations for growth and infrastructure and assisting decision-making of applications.
One of Plaid Cymru’s manifesto promises ahead of the Senedd elections in May 2026 was to “overhaul spatial planning and regional development in Wales”, by delivering a revised NDF.
Welsh government state that since the adoption of Future Wales, Wales has faced significant social, economic and environmental change, including the climate and nature emergencies, evolving economic conditions, demographic pressures, infrastructure challenges and growing demands for resilience and energy security.
The consultation, which represents the first of several proposed steps, consults on the following:
- A draft Statement of Public Participation, which sets out how the Welsh government will engage and involve people in the development of the revised NDF.
- A draft National Conversation Engagement Plan, which looks to frame the national conversation on the future of Wales and the role that places, communities, infrastructure and natural resources should play in delivering that future. This will help shape the vision, objectives, spatial priorities and policies of the revised NDF and ensure that decisions are informed by the experiences, aspirations and evidence of people, communities, organisations and stakeholders across Wales.
- The role the revised NDF should play in meeting Wales’s needs.
Rhys Govier, director in the Cardiff Planning team at Savills, states: “The NDF is a key planning document for Wales. While the former Labour government in March this year concluded that the current Future Wales remains a ‘national blueprint’, we welcome opportunities for a review of the NDF. We have seen a recent review of the National Planning Policy Framework in England, and it is essential we ensure the NDF remains fit for purpose and provides the framework for planning to address critical issues facing Wales, including housing, economic development and investment in energy and infrastructure.”
The consultation runs until 20 November 2026, with the revised NDF expected in the winter of 2029/30.