The draft National Development Framework: ‘Future Wales: the national plan 2040’

Published 23/10/2020   |   Reading Time minutes

The Welsh Government laid the draft of its first National Development Framework (NDF) before the Senedd on 21 September 2020.

The NDF is a 20 year national spatial strategy. It sets out the Welsh Government’s policies on development and land use in a spatial context, and will be known as ‘Future Wales: the national plan 2040’.

This research briefing (PDF 3914 KB) summarises:

  • the draft NDF, and associated documents, laid before the Senedd;
  • how these proposals differ from those contained in the previous version of the draft NDF, which was consulted upon in 2019; and
  • Senedd committee scrutiny of the 2019 draft NDF.

We’ve also published a blog post answering frequently asked questions about the NDF.

Starting from 21 September the Senedd has 60 days to consider the draft NDF and recommend any changes to the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Government led a debate in the Senedd on the draft NDF on 29 September.

The Senedd’s Climate Change Environment and Rural Affairs (CCERA) Committee questioned the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James, on the draft NDF, on 15 October.

The Committee is also planning to hold an evidence-gathering session with stakeholders on 5 November.

This will be followed by a further Senedd debate on 25 November, this time instigated by the Committee, when Members of the Senedd will have the opportunity to debate the Committee’s findings.

The Welsh Government intends to publish the final NDF in February 2021.


Article by Francesca Howorth and Elfyn Henderson, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament