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We are all faced by rising energy costs and the need to tackle climate change and its effects. In 2009 a number of changes have been made in Wales to the requirements for planning applications to enable the delivery of sustainable buildings and good design. 

The package of changes includes a requirement for Design and Access Statements for most developments, (which are different from the requirements in England), and a national planning policy on sustainable building standards for new housing developments of 5 units or more (1 unit or more from September 2010) and for nondomestic buildings of 1,000 sq m or more.

RTPI Cymru, in association with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Design Commission for Wales, has commissioned training to explain the new regulations and policy and to provide guidance on meeting the new requirements. This training has been delivered to local planning authorities and Planning Inspectors and therefore provides an insight into their thinking.

The training will provide :

• an understanding of what is being looked for in planning applications and at appeal
• an overview of the new policy, including the development management requirements
• an overview of the sustainable building standards (Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM)
• the role of renewable and low carbon energy sources in buildings
• an overview of the revised TAN 12: Design (June 2009)
• when is a Design and Access Statement required
• what is required in a Design and Access Statement

The training will be delivered by a team of planning and sustainable buildings specialists with extensive experience in this field.