A final consultation is now open covering the new consent regime in The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024. Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans says the act “provides a transparent, consistent and simple, yet rigorous, process which enables local communities and stakeholders to shape developments and better understand how decisions affect them. The proposals are also intended to meet future challenges by being sufficiently flexible to capture the consenting arrangements for developing technologies and any further powers which may be devolved.” In Wales noise and soundscapes are covered in Planning Policy Wales, and under the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) Act 2024 for local planning authorities. This document refers to statutory nuisance and local impact reports, so IOA will be considering a response. The consultation is open until December 13th.
