ABSTRACT
In shaping a strategy for rural Wales for the remainder of this decade and into the next century, it is vital that policies take account of the life experiences of the inhabitants of the areas that are designated rural. Current concepts of rural land use are restricted by traditional views of rural agriculturally-based development and of established settlement patterns. As rural societies become more diverse and problems such as rural poverty and lack of small-scale economic development becomes more significant for the rural communities of Wales, there needs to be a greater flexibility in the land use control systems and the types of development deemed suitable in rural areas. The absence of a specific policy document from the British government relating to rural issues within Wales is addressed in this chapter.
