A planning application can be decided by the case officer or by the planning committee. Usually, wildlife concerns are addressed by conditions. These can relate to construction methods, mitigation and compensation and the aftercare and management of the site.

Many areas are specially protected for their wildlife value. They range from vast landscapes to single fields. Some are protected by law, and others by policy. The planning system should protect these areas and the wildlife that lives in them.

Shoresearch is The Wildlife Trusts’ user-friendly and fun, citizen science project used to record the plants and animals found along the shore.

Applications for some large infrastructure projects are decided by Welsh Ministers instead of the local planning authority. These include energy projects, roads, railways and airports, dams and reservoirs and certain waste facilities, subject to various thresholds, and are called Developments of National Significance (DNS).

These resources are for anyone who wants simple, plain English and Welsh guides to getting started.