Snowdonia National Park is a special place and planning has an important role in creating a more sustainable future. The National Park Authority seeks to conserve and enhance the natural and built environment of the Park, while also providing for the needs of local communities. Being located in a National Park does not prevent development, instead development needs to be looked at in a different way.
Development in a National Park can be different from development in other areas. National Parks have special qualities that need to be protected and enhanced.
Snowdonia National Park Authority will assess all proposed developments to ensure that they do not negatively impact the National Park.
They will consider all sorts of factors to decide whether to grant planning permission. These can include:
- whether the development complies with local and national planning policies
- the size, location and design of the development
- whether the development will affect nearby residents
- the impact the development will have on the special qualities of the National Park
- the perspective of the public and groups outside the Authority, e.g. community councils or entities such as Natural Resources Wales
Snowdonia’s Landscape and Natural Beauty
Snowdonia National Park is famous for its outstanding landscape and natural beauty. The National Park Authority works to protect these qualities from the harmful effects of development.
The Planning Department at the Authority will consider the impact a development could have on the appearance of the surrounding area.
Snowdonia’s Community and Culture
Snowdonia National Park is an area with a vibrant community and culture. However, the scale of these small communities makes them vulnerable to the effects of developments.
Snowdonia National Park Authority’s Planning Department will:
- ensure that development does not affect a community’s ability to thrive
- support developments that benefit a community
The Welsh language in Snowdonia
58% of the Snowdonia National Park’s population use Welsh as their first language. Some of the towns within Snowdonia have the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in Wales.
Snowdonia National Park Authority will consider the impact of development on the Welsh language and will:
- support development that maintains or enhances the use of the Welsh language
- promote business signage to be bilingual or Welsh only
- encourage the use of Welsh language names on new developments, for example, Welsh language names on new houses or streets
Snowdonia’s History and Heritage
The history and heritage connected to Snowdonia National Park are some of its special qualities. Many areas of the National Park are home to buildings of national historical importance.
The Planning Department at the Authority will consider the impact of new development on the area’s history and heritage and:
- support developments that conserve or enhance the history and heritage of the National Park, e.g. works to listed buildings or works within a conservation area
- support developments that make use of traditional materials
Snowdonia’s Wildlife and Ecology
The National Park is home to wildlife of both national and international importance. Any new development within Snowdonia National Park must enhance the area’s wildlife and ecology to ensure its protection.
Snowdonia National Park Authority will consider:
- whether the development negatively impacts plant or animal habitats, e.g. the need to move a hedge as part of the development
- whether the development promotes the wildlife within the development location, e.g. planting native trees as part of the work undertaken