Access Statements

Today we are announcing the timetable for taking forward secondary legislation, which will require that access statements accompany planning applications in Wales. These are statements submitted by those applying for planning permission about how their proposals meet the needs of those with disabilities.

As part of our preparations for the new Disability Equality Duty, which comes into force at the end of this year, the Welsh Assembly Government has reviewed how we can, not only meet the new requirements, but go the extra mile.

While undertaking this review we have been impressed by representations from various groups, including access groups, the Disability Rights Commission and Disability Wales, that a provision in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, if implemented, could help improve the lives of those with disabilities in Wales.  

The Assembly Government proposes to consult over the coming months on what the access requirement would entail, including which types of planning applications should have access statements and what statements should cover.

It is our wish that everyone contribute to this consultation process so that we get the right legislation for Wales.  Access improvements that may arise from this new requirement will benefit not just those with disabilities but others   such as those with temporary injuries (on crutches or in wheelchairs) and parents with pushchairs.

Once we have the consultation results, we will bring forward secondary legislation in the autumn covering a number of planning provisions relating to development control contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.  The proposal for  access statements is included in  a wider consultation paper covering a number of planning provisions relating to  development control contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

We will ensure that copies of the consultation paper are made available to Assembly Members in due course and that the relevant subject committees have an opportunity to consider it.  

Given this Assembly’s keen interest in disability issues, we hope that we can count on Members to support the access statement legislation when we bring it before you towards the end of this year.