The UDP’s main objective is sustainable development - in every sense. The aim is to create favourable conditions to safeguard, sustain and develop our communities - culturally and economically - while protecting the environment and the Gwynedd Planning Authority area's special features. A Plan such as this cannot accomplish miracles, but in conjunction with other plans and strategies it can play an important part in achieving the aims and objectives of Gwynedd Council.

The process of preparing a UDP has been a lengthy one, and it was necessary to follow a number of statutory steps before it can be adopted. Click on the attachment at the bottom of this page to view a flow chart which outlines the process.

For further information regarding these statutory procedures it is possible to download the 'Unitary Development Plans - A Guide to the Procedures' booklet from the Welsh Assembly Government website under ‘Planning’.

The UDP Deposit Draft for the Gwynedd Planning Authority area was placed on public deposit in the summer of 2004. During this period it was possible for public and private bodies, voluntary organisations and individuals to study the Plan and make formal representations. Following the representations received on the Deposit Draft, ‘Pre-Inquiry Proposed Changes’ were offered to the Plan. There was a consultation period for the Pre-Inquiry Proposed Changes Document between the 14th of September and the 28th of October, 2005.

The Local Public Inquiry, where an independent Inspector considers all of the objections received during both of the consultation periods was held between the 4th of April, 2006 and the 8th of May, 2007. In response to the Local Public Inquiry, the Inspector prepared a Report which includes his conclusions and recommendations, along with justification for the recommendations.

In order to respond to some of the Inspector’s recommendations which were introduced in the ‘Inspectors Report’ the Council introduced ‘Proposed Modifications’ to the Deposit Draft Unitary Development Plan. A consultation period on the 'Proposed Modifications' was held, and this ended on 3rd October, 2008.

Due to exceptional circumstances it was also necessary for the Council to publish ‘Further Proposed Modifications’ to the Plan. The ‘Further Proposed Modifications’ were made available for public consultation for a period of six weeks from the 26th of February, 2009 to the 9th of April, 2009.

The Unitary Development Plan was adopted during a meeting of the Full Council on 16 July 2009.

Development Briefs
Development Briefs have been prepared for each site allocated for housing, re-development or employment in the Deposit Draft Gwynedd Unitary Development Plan (2004). It is possible to view the development briefs and receive further information by viewing the maps in the Unitary Development Plan section. The development briefs are also available for inspection at the Council Offices as well as the County’s local public libraries. In the forthcoming months it is intended it is the Council’s intention to review the content of the development briefs in order to ensure that their content is coherent with the final version of the Unitary Development Plan, i.e. delete or include a few sentences, amend the current content and refer to the correct policies.