Just prior to Xmas, Welsh Government published its responses to the earlier consultation on changes to Welsh PD rights.

https://www.gov.wales/changes-permitted-development-rights

Feeds and press were full of optimism and fanfare for measures announced to increase PDR for ‘the camping season’ to 60 days. All subject of course to filtering and ‘prior approval’ processes.

7 weeks or so later, there is no sign of draft amendments to the PD Order. The silence on how compliance with any prior approval conditions will be achieved, or on any essential information or reporting necessary to achieve compliance is deafening.

Expecting that sites would want to start operating by mid July to maximise the benefit, there must be a window to prepare, submit and secure positive decisions on Prior Approval applications. Also few will put in place any essential measures (eg sewage disposal/water etc) without some certainty. Senedd elections also bring early closure to legislative business in Cardiff.

The only certainty I can foresee is that it will be 2027 at the earliest before most can benefit from the changes if they are brought into force and even then only if it’s a priority for whatever form of Government we choose.