Investment boost to help grow Wales's planning workforce

• Nearly £450,000 invested and up to 19 new qualified planners to be supported across Wales 

• New rural scheme targets workforce shortages in mid and west Wales 

• Welsh-speaking graduates to benefit from locally-focused "grow your own" approach

Communities across Wales will benefit from stronger, more resilient local planning services after the Welsh Government announced £447,400 to train the next generation of planners. 

The investment continues the Pathways to Planning bursary scheme (£126,000), supporting up to seven new junior planners with fully funded postgraduate study. A new Mid and West Wales Rural Planners bursary scheme (£321,400 over three years) will deliver up to 12 additional qualified planners in rural areas, where recruitment challenges are most acute. 

This new scheme will support both new graduates and existing staff in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Eryri National Park and Powys to study for RTPI-accredited postgraduate qualifications while remaining in their communities. 

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Siân Gwenllian, said: 

"Good planning services are the backbone of thriving communities. They shape where homes are built, where businesses grow and how we protect our natural environment, but too many rural areas in Wales are struggling to recruit and retain the planners they need. 

"That is why I joined a roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show this week with rural council leaders, including the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys, to hear directly about the pressures they face. These bursary schemes are a direct response to what we heard investing in local talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and growing the planning workforce from within the communities it serves." 

Ceredigion County Council will lead delivery of the rural scheme. Cllr Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said: 

"The launch of the Mid and West Wales Planning Workforce Development Programme demonstrates what can be achieved when rural authorities come together to solve shared challenges. Ceredigion has been proud to lead the development of this regional initiative, working with our partners to create new opportunities for local people to build professional careers in planning while remaining in rural Wales. 

"By investing in home-grown talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and strengthening the skills we need for the future, we are helping to ensure that Mid and West Wales has the capacity, expertise and local knowledge required to shape thriving, sustainable communities for generations to come. We thank Welsh Government for the opportunity to develop this 'grow your own' planners approach." 

Notes to editors 

• The Pathways to Planning scheme, administered by the Welsh Local Government Association, has supported 7 junior planners across Wales to date. Subject to the outcome of Cohort 4, a further 4 planners may be supported.  Cohort 5 is expected to launch in October/November 2026. 

• The Mid and West Wales Rural Planners scheme is expected to deliver up to 12 qualified planners over three years (20262029). 

• Both schemes form part of a wider workforce strategy to grow the pipeline of planners in Wales, responding to findings in the RTPIPublic Sector Planning Services in Wales Research Report. 

• The Cabinet Minister joined the WLGA Rural Forum roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show on 21 July 2026. The roundtable included the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys County Councils.