Councillor calls for urgent action on Flintshire’s next development plan

Flintshire councillors are set to debate a motion calling for urgent action on the county’s next Local Development Plan (LDP), amid concerns that delays in previous plans have led to excessive speculative housing developments.

The motion, submitted by Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson, highlights Flintshire County Council’s history of late adoption of development plans, with the most recent LDP (2015-2030) approved eight years behind schedule.

It argues that further delays could leave communities vulnerable to unplanned developments that put pressure on local infrastructure and public services.

Councillors have previously stated that work on the next LDP—set to take effect from 2030—is not yet necessary.

However, the motion warns that communities such as Penyffordd, Higher Kinnerton, and Buckley have already been affected by speculative private developments due to gaps in planning policy.

It also raises concerns that insufficient community engagement in past LDPs has resulted in site allocations that benefit landowners and developers rather than residents.

The motion calls for work on the next LDP to begin immediately, with a strategy for greater community involvement to be published by summer 2025.

It also proposes that the process for identifying candidate development sites starts no later than the final quarter of 2025, with a draft plan ready for submission to the Welsh Government by early 2028.

If passed, the motion would commit the council to a stricter timeline to prevent further delays and ensure future development is better aligned with local needs.

The proposal will be discussed at an upcoming full council meeting.