Significant planning legislation for Wales receives Royal Assent

One of the most significant pieces of legislation of recent times in relation to planning for Wales, the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023, received Royal Assent on 14 June 2023.

Until now, the Welsh planning legislation related to ancient buildings, monuments and land, and was based on laws that were made for England and Wales.

This Act is one of the first pieces solely applicable to Wales and aims to consolidate planning legislation in relation to the conservation of historic buildings and historic environment. It forms part of a code of law relating to the historical environment in Wales. In doing so, it will amend various planning legislation to remove and add certain references, once all provisions come into force.

The Act forms part of a wider Welsh Government programme to improve the accessibility of Welsh law, and to simplify planning legislation through consolidation. It is also the first piece of legislation related to the historic environment that will be published fully in a bilingual format.

The provisions laid out in the Act covers:

• monuments of special historic interest, such as archaeological sites, ruins of buildings and sites of historical importance;
• listed scheduled monuments and related provisions on the authorisation of works on those monuments;
• acquisition and guardianship by authorities of monuments of special historic interest;
• listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest and related provisions on authorisation of works on those buildings;
• powers of the Welsh Ministers and planning authorities to acquire a building that needs urgent work to help preserve it;
• designation of conservation areas of special architectural or historic interest, and related works authorisation requirements;
• requirements placed on the Welsh Ministers to maintain and publish the lists of scheduled monuments and buildings of special architectural or historic interest, as well as register of historic parks and gardens in Wales.

Following the official sealing ceremony of the Act, the Welsh Government's Counsel General Mick Antoniw said: "This Act will mean owners of scheduled monuments and listed buildings will be able to find the legislation they need all in one place, set out logically in understandable language and published bilingually. In turn, this will lead to better protection and management of the Welsh historic environment."

Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden, said: "I very much welcome this new law, which will play an important role in the effective protection and management of our unique historic environment so that it can continue to contribute to the well-being of Wales and its people."