Choose language:

RTPI Wales Conference – 18 June 2026, Cardiff

Planning Aid Wales was delighted to attend the annual RTPI Wales Conference in Cardiff. The event was exceptionally well organised, professionally delivered and provided a valuable opportunity for planners, community organisations and stakeholders to discuss the future of planning in Wales.

Our exhibition stand gave us the opportunity to meet delegates, promote the work of Planning Aid Wales and strengthen relationships across the planning sector.

Our Chief Executive, James Davies, delivered a presentation on Artificial Intelligence in Planning, exploring how AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the planning system in Wales. He highlighted that AI is being introduced as a tool to support planning officers and improve efficiency—not to replace professional judgement or democratic decision-making.

Key discussion points included:

  • Faster processing of straightforward planning applications.
  • Reducing the administrative burden on planning departments.
  • Making better use of planning data and digital information.
  • Giving planning officers more time to focus on complex or controversial proposals.
  • Improving consistency in identifying planning constraints.

James also discussed some of the challenges and considerations surrounding the use of AI, including:

  • The potential for AI to misunderstand unusual or complex proposals.
  • The risk of inaccurate or incomplete summaries.
  • The need for transparency so applicants and communities understand how AI has informed planning assessments.
  • The possibility that AI-generated consultation responses and objections could increase workloads for local authorities rather than reduce them.

The presentation generated considerable interest and discussion, highlighting both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with introducing AI into the planning process.

To explore these issues further, Planning Aid Wales is launching a new training course, Planning Online – Smarter Tools, Stronger Communities, on 30 September 2026. The course will examine the growing role of AI and digital technologies in planning, helping communities understand how these changes may influence engagement, consultation and decision-making across Wales.