Published on the 24 February 2021, Future Wales is the Welsh Government’s highest tier of the development framework and is the first national spatial development plan to be published anywhere in the UK.
It sets out the desired direction of travel for development in Wales for the next 20 years and sets out a strategy for addressing some of the key national priorities through the planning system including: generating and sustaining economic development, achieving carbon neutrality and climate resilience, and developing strong ecosystems and green infrastructure.
The document is non-statutory, but all subsequent strategic and local plans are required to conform to its policies and must be regularly updated to ensure they continue to work effectively together with Future Wales.
Planning decisions at every level of the planning system in Wales must be taken with regard to the policy requirements of Future Wales and must be taken in accordance with the plan as a whole.
Future Wales replaces the Wales Spatial Plan.