This document is an excellent example of what the assembly can achieve

Plaid Cymru AM Owen John Thomas

Councils in Gwynedd and Ceredigion already consider Welsh when assessing developments, but the move means language will also have to be taken into account by councils where little Welsh is spoken.

The language now sits alongside issues such as health, education and transport in the application process - a move that has been mostly welcomed by language campaigners.

Introducing the assembly government's new policy document Planning Policy Wales, Welsh Assembly Environment Minister Sue Essex said employment, house sizes and the language have an important part in sustaining communities.

"The process looks at residential growth and at economic growth in the area, but making sure that the Welsh language, if that is important, is part of that too," said Ms Essex.

Environment Minister Sue Essex

The announcement is seen as a recognition by the assembly that the Welsh language forms part of the social fabric of communities in some parts of Wales.

The Welsh Language Society has given a conditional welcome but it said the assembly should be more proactive in its approach.

The society wants action plans in rural areas to include an analysis of housing needs, job opportunities and of transport facilities to make living in the community a viable option for young people.

Elsewhere, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central Owen John Thomas welcomed the document.

"This document is an excellent example of what the assembly can achieve when members of different parties get together to try to discuss matters on which there is general cross-party agreement," said Mr Thomas.

"I hope that planning officers throughout Wales will take the policy on board."

However, some politicians have labelled the plan a way of deferring the problem until after the 2003 elections.

Home ban

The announcement follows the recent news that Gwynedd Council is considering bringing in a ban which prevents incomers from buying new homes across the county.

In April 2002, Gwynedd Council has confirmed that a new development plan proposed by the authority states no new homes would be allowed unless there was local demand for property.

It followed similar proposals by Snowdonia National Park Authority in March 2001, and a Pembrokeshire scheme in January.

The Gwynedd plan would stop new homes being built outside of main towns unless there is local demand from people who have lived and worked in the area for 10 years or more.