# Planning (Wales) Act 2026, Section 6: Operations and changes in use that are not development

Extent: E+W
Status: prospective

(1) This section provides that certain operations and changes in the use of land are not development.
(2) Carrying out works for the maintenance, improvement or alteration of a building is not development if—
(a) the works affect only the interior of the building or do not materially affect its external appearance, and
(b) the works do not increase—
(i) the gross internal floor area of the building, or
(ii) the volume of underground space in the building.
(3) The following operations are not development—
(a) the carrying out by a highway authority on land within the boundaries of a road of—
(i) works required exclusively for the maintenance of the road, or
(ii) other works required for the maintenance or improvement of the road, other than works that may have significant adverse effects on the environment;
(b) the carrying out by a local authority or statutory undertaker of works for the purpose of inspecting, repairing or renewing sewers, mains, pipes, cables or other apparatus, including breaking open a street or other land for that purpose.
(4) See also section 5(2) of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 (c. 58), which provides that certain works in relation to pipe-lines are not development.
(5) The following changes in the use of land are not development—
(a) changing the use of a building or other land within the curtilage of a dwelling to any use that is incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling;
(b) changing the use of land to any use for agriculture or forestry (including afforestation), or changing the use of a building that is occupied with land so used to any use for either of those purposes.
(6) Regulations may provide that, where land is used for a purpose within a class specified in the regulations, changing the use of the land to use for any other purpose within the same class is not development.
(7) Regulations under subsection (6) apply equally to a change in the use of part of the land, except so far as the regulations provide otherwise.
(8) In subsection (3)(b)—
(a) the reference to a local authority does not include a National Park authority;
(b) the reference to a statutory undertaker does not include a universal postal service provider.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asc/2026/6/section/6 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/planning-wales-act-2026/section-6
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.