Free Wales future-planning events start in September

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-19 15:15 3 min read

The Senedd Cymru Welsh Parliament stone signage on a textured wall.

The Welsh Government will hold free National Development Framework Consultation Engagement Events at locations across Wales during September and October 2026. Remote sessions are also planned, and both members of the public and organisations can take part.

Individual event dates and venues have not yet been published. The wider consultation is already open and will continue until 20 November 2026, giving participants time to attend a session and submit a response.

The practical picture

Event period: September and October 2026
Venue: Various locations across Wales, plus remote events
Price: Free
Who can attend: People and organisations across Wales
Consultation deadline: 20 November 2026

Events will help shape plans for Wales in 2050

The engagement programme forms part of a major revision of the National Development Framework. This framework guides how places, communities, infrastructure and natural resources are planned and managed through the Welsh planning system.

The consultation opened on 19 August and covers three elements: the Statement of Public Participation, the National Conversation Engagement Plan and a Call for Evidence. The September and October sessions will provide in-person and remote opportunities to join that national conversation.

Siân Gwenllian, Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, said the discussion would extend beyond planning policy to consider how communities, infrastructure, the environment and culture should shape Wales through to 2050. She encouraged anyone interested in the future of their community, town, city, region or nation to participate.

Seven themes will guide the national conversation

The programme is expected to explore:

Wales in 2050: What the country should be known for and what future generations should inherit.
Homes and communities: The housing and community infrastructure Wales will need.
Economy and prosperity: Where employment and investment should be concentrated.
Climate and nature: How connected environmental pressures can be addressed together.
Movement and connectivity: The future of transport and digital connections.
Culture, language and nationhood: The place of Welsh language and cultural identity in development.
Health and wellbeing: How planning could support healthier lives and reduce inequalities.

These themes allow participants to comment on more than individual developments. They bring together decisions about housing, employment, transport, digital infrastructure, environmental priorities and the character of Welsh communities.

Free Wales future-planning events start in September

Responses will inform a revised national framework

The Welsh Government says it wants the revised framework to support a more community-centred planning approach, give communities a meaningful voice and help local and regional bodies make decisions about homes, workplaces and infrastructure.

The work is intended to involve local authorities and regional partners while reducing costs, bureaucracy and duplicated activity. The resulting National Development Framework will sit above local and regional planning decisions, providing an overarching direction for how Wales develops.

The consultation also begins as work gets under way on Wales’s first Climate and Nature Action Plan. That separate programme is intended to bring climate and nature considerations into decision-making across the Welsh Government.

Check the session details before travelling

The announcement does not yet provide individual event dates, specific venue names, times, booking arrangements, transport guidance or accessibility information. Anyone planning to attend should wait for those details and check whether their preferred session will be held in person or remotely.

People looking for another public engagement opportunity in North Wales can also review the scheduled Wrexham bus consultation sessions.

Consultation documents, response instructions and future event details are available through the Welsh Government’s National Development Framework page. Responses must be submitted by 20 November 2026.

Source: Welsh Government Announcements

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

Event dates, participation details and consultation themes were checked against the Welsh Government announcement published on 19 August 2026.

Checks

Confirmed that the consultation runs from 19 August to 20 November 2026.
Confirmed that in-person and remote events are planned across Wales during September and O...
Checked the seven published themes against the official announcement.
Noted that individual dates, venues, times and booking arrangements have not yet been supp...

Welsh Government Announcements Check wider coverage