Last Week, Rebecca Evans — secretary of economy, energy and planning at the Senedd — laid out impactions to make “Wales the first fastest country in the UK to determine infrastructure applications.”

This is seeing the Welsh government make greater investment in planning services to help accelerate application decisions.

While the HBF has welcomed the recognition being given to planning reform, the group is pushing for greater focus to be given to housing in the country.

The HBF has highlighted that the government’s own statistics show only 4,631 new homes were built in 2024/25 in Wales.

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Mark Harris, planning and policy Advisor (Wales) at the HBF said the current shortfall in housing delivery in Wales cannot be addressed through infrastructure reform alone.

“Delays and complexity elsewhere in the planning system continue to delay the delivery to new homes,” he added.

“The home building industry is ready to increase delivery, but this depends on a planning system that is adequately resourced, efficient and focused on enabling homes to be built.

“HBF is keen to work constructively with government officials to ensure policy commitments translate into increased housing delivery.”