Wales Spatial Plan

The Wales Spatial Plan - People, Places, Futures - was originally adopted by the National Assembly for Wales in November 2004. The document was updated during 2008 and brings the Wales Spatial Plan into line with One Wales, and gives status to the Area work which has developed since 2004.

Image depicting Wales Spatial Plan 2008 Update cover

The five national themes which guide the Wales Spatial Plan are:

Theme 1: Building Sustainable Communities;

Theme 2: Promoting a Sustainable Economy;

Theme 3: Valuing our Environment;

Theme 4: Achieving Sustainable Accessibility; and

Theme 5: Respecting Distinctiveness.

More details on all these themes and priorities can be found within the Wales Spatial Plan 2008 Update, which may be found here: http://new.wales.gov.uk/location/strategy/spatial/documents/wsp2008update/?lang=en

(More information on Swansea Bay Waterfront and Western Valleys can be found in Section 20, p.138)

Wales Spatial Plan groups have contributed to the development of the 'Strategic Framework' documents referred to on the main Convergence page, which go into detail on the scope of each 'Priority' of the Convergence programmes. They have contributed in particular to the 'Sustainable Regeneration Strategic Frameworks', with 6 such Frameworks covering each of the Wales Spatial Plan areas.

The Sustainable Regeneration Strategic Framework for Swansea Bay and Western Valleys covering Convergence ERDF themes of Strategic Infrastructure, Environment for Growth and Physical Regeneration can be found here:

http://wefo.wales.gov.uk/applyingforfunding/submitting/strategicframeworks/erdf/sustainableregeneration/?lang=en

Image depicting Wales Spatial Plan Swansea Bay diagram

The vision for Swansea Bay is : 'A network of interdependent settlements with Swansea at its heart which pull together effectively as a city-region with a modern, competitive, knowledge-based economy designed to deliver a high quality of life, a sustainable environment, a vibrant waterfront and excellent national and international connections'

Key elements in realising the vision for Swansea Bay are:

Improving accessibility. This includes improved telecommunication links as well as developing transport connections between the key settlements.
Developing a cutting edge knowledge economy.
Reducing economic inactivity and developing an integrated skills strategy.
Implementing the Waterfront Masterplan to maximise opportunities along the stunning coastline.
Developing a strong leisure and activity based tourism industry.
Ensuring that environmental protection and enhancement are fully integrated.

More detail can be found by following the links to the right of this page.

Part of the role of Spatial European Teams is to assist Wales Spatial Plan groups, along with Strategic Framework Co-ordinators and the range of local and regional partnerships in their areas to encourage collaborative working in development of projects and activities to ensure they meet local needs, as well as helping to deliver spatial and national priorities.

This page last updated on January 11 2010