The Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning has issued an interim planning policy statement. The statement addresses the impact of phosphorus pollution on rivers designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales. It outlines the Welsh Government’s commitment to sustainable development through a 'fair share' approach, requiring all sectors to contribute to reducing nutrient levels. The statement emphasises integrated management, restoration and mitigation strategies, discouraging reliance on short-term fixes. It also introduces planning guidance developed by DTA Ecology, which includes three policy positions (WG1, WG2, WG3) to help local authorities and developers navigate SAC-related planning challenges, particularly for affordable housing.

The Welsh government has published additional guidance for significant infrastructure projects (SIPs) in Wales:

The Welsh government has published a letter detailing the building control regulatory functions which have been designated to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The letter also provides guidance for the publication of the related Charging scheme.

The Welsh Government has published the outcome of its consultation on estate charges on housing developments. The call for evidence received 604 responses from homeowners, residents, developers, managing agents and management companies, local authorities, registered social landlords, property lawyers and others. The responses made it clear to the Welsh Government that the practice of estate charges is not currently effective for all. The Welsh Government will use the evidence gathered to consider where changes need to be made.

The Welsh Government has updated its guidance on pre-application consultation for Significant Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.

On 9 June 2026, Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) published guidance called 'Using AI in submissions to PEDW', which sets out how artificial intelligence (AI) should be used responsibly when preparing comments, evidence or submissions for planning cases.

A Welsh man has been sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment for defrauding 11 victims out of a total £30,467.04 to fund his gambling habit. Scott Newland told lies to his partner, friends, and strangers to obtain the money including that it was to be used for funeral expenses and that he was buying his ex-partner’s share of a house. In addition, Newland falsely advertised computers for sale and took money for goods that would never arrive, using a redacted copy of his partner’s police warrant card without their knowledge, to appear a genuine seller.

Planning analysis: The Welsh Government has legislated to change the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (the GPDO), to create new permitted development rights for changes of use between primary homes, second homes and short-term lets. New permitted development rights permitting changes of use from a betting office to other uses are also created. The changes apply from 20 October 2022 in Wales only.

Welsh school admissions and appeals are governed mainly by: • the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (SSFA 1998) • the Welsh School Admissions Code • the School Admissions Appeal Code • the Education (Determination of Admission Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations, SI 2006/174 • the School Admissions (Variations of Admission Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2013, SI 2013/1140 • the Education (Admissions Appeals Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/1398 Admissions authority In relation to community or voluntary controlled schools, the local authority is the admission authority, unless the function has been delegated in full to a school governing body. See Practice Note: Categories of schools. The admission authority for foundation or voluntary-aided schools is the governing body of the school. Where the admission authority for a community or voluntary controlled school is the local authority, it is the duty of the governing body to implement any decision relating to the admission of pupils to the school which is taken by or on behalf of the admission authority. Admissions forum A local education authority (LEA)

The Welsh Government has published a statement by Julie James, Minister for Climate Change, on the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 being laid before Parliament on 18 January 2023. The regulations make consequential amendments to the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (SH(R)A 2023) and miscellaneous amendments to the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (HRA 2008). They give effect to revisions to the regulatory regime for social housing in England set out in SH(R)A 2023 and make provisions in relation to Wales amending primary legislation within the legislative competence of the Senedd but relating to matters that are not within the legislative competence of the Senedd. James has laid a Statutory Instrument Consent Memorandum in respect of these regulations.

The Welsh Government has announced that the Senedd Cymru has passed the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill, which will establish a Disused Tips Authority for Wales. This new, government-sponsored body will be responsible for mitigating safety risks by ensuring that disused coal and non-coal tips do not destabilise communities. It will implement a comprehensive framework to assess, register, monitor, and manage Wales's 2,573 disused coal tips and an estimated 20,000 non-coal tips. The Authority will be formally established on 1 April 2027, with the appointment process for a Chair and Chief Executive set to commence shortly.

Compulsory registration requirements Our Practice Note: Deducing title to unregistered land—compulsory first registration, party to register, evidence of title, good root of title and unbroken chain of ownership explains why, when and how to deduce title to unregistered land, looking specifically at compulsory first registration. Since 1 April 1998 assents require compulsory registration. There was no compulsory requirement to register assents prior