Communities in former Gwent Contents 1 Llanelly, Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina and Tredegar page G2 2 Llanfoist Fawr and Blaenavon G6 3 Crucorney G9 4 Abergavenny, Llantilio Pertholey and Grosmont G12 5 Llanover, Goetre Fawr, Pontypool and Abersychan G14 Table G1 Allocation of dwelling units to the communities of former Gwent Llanelly, Llanfoist Crucorney Abergavenny, Llanover, Gwent Brynmawr, Fawr and Llantilio Goetre total Nantyglo Blaenavon Pertholey and Fawr, and Blaina, Grosmont Pontypool Tredegar and Abersychan Commenced or built (a) H1 Sites Permitted but 20 20 not started (b) Without 61 6 67 consent (c) Unallocated Commenced 27 4 1 2 34 sites or built (d) Permitted but 38 8 11 2 59 not started (e) Community guidance figure 94 44 15 21 6 180 (calculated from Structure Plan total) Less those commenced or 27 4 1 2 34 built 1991-98 (a+d above) Required 1998-2006 67 44 11 20 4 146 Plus contingency 20% 14 9 2 4 29 Total required 1998-2006 81 52 13 24 4 175 Less those committed: extant 109 14 11 2 136 consents plus H1 without consent (b+c+e above) Land and locations required none 38 2 24 2 66* * this total includes only those communities with positive allocations remaining Brecon Beacons National Park Local Plan: Proposals for Communities in former Gwent Adopted May 1999 G1 1 Llanelly, Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina and Tredegar Communities Llanelly industries. Among these, just below the open hill, are many part-time smallholdings. 1.1 The community of Llanelly is centred on the Clydach Gorge. It includes the limestone scarp of 1.7 No mines or quarries are working at present, but Gilwern Hill and the south east flank of Mynydd one is used for tipping inert waste. Tourism is Llangattock, and runs northwards to the River Usk. increasingly important in the Clydach Gorge, with The area has a rich industrial history. The remains its wealth of industrial history. of early iron works, limestone quarrying and coal mining, and the construction of canals, tramroads Brynmawr and railways all contribute to its present character. The A465T Heads of the Valleys Road, the strategic 1.8 The community of Brynmawr is divided by the east-west route in the area, runs up through the National Park boundary, with the town itself lying gorge, bisecting the village of Clydach. outside the Park. It includes the southern corner of Mynydd Llangattock, and is crossed by the Afon 1.2 Gilwern is the main village in the community and Clydach and the Heads of the Valleys Road. Coal the largest settlement in the Park after Brecon. It and iron ore patchworkings are evident in the area has developed at the mouth of the Clydach Gorge, and a small private coal mine operated recently. where tramroads came down to a wharf on the Brynmawr Comprehensive School and a computer Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal from the factory are located in the Park. The hamlets of quarries and ironworks. Today the village consists Clydach Terrace and Cwm Nant-gam are more of four separate clusters. In the oldest part, along closely connected to Llanelly Hill than to the former main road, there are shops, a doctor's Brynmawr. surgery, library, chapel, three pubs and the former school, now a community centre. This part has expanded considerably eastwards on both sides of Nantyglo and Blaina and the A4077, including a large local authority-built Tredegar estate. 1.9 Boundary changes have brought very small parts of 1.3 North of the recreation ground lies the new school these communities into the National Park. There is and community centre, and the most recent no development in either area, both of which are developments at Upper and Lower Common. West designated as open countryside. They are therefore of the Afon Clydach is the other part of the original not mentioned further below. village, with a former woollen mill by the stream, a pub and garage on the A4077, and much estate development on both sides of the Canal. South of PROPOSALS the canal is a smaller cluster of houses, and a pub on the Heads of the Valleys Road. 1.10 The deposit version of this Local Plan, published in June 1995, listed those issues identified by previous 1.4 Gilwern Park Industrial Site, east of the village, is a consultation that the Local Plan needed to tackle. recent Welsh Development Agency estate of large These issues are set out under the relevant headings industrial units. Adjoining it is a HGV training below. school in converted army Nissen huts. 1.5 Along the old main road through the gorge are the linear settlements of Maesygwartha, Clydach North Housing and Blackrock. Above these is the small hamlet of • New housing should be limited to meet the needs of Llanelly, dominated by its church. On the southern the local community. side of the gorge is the village of Clydach South, and above it, between limestone quarries and • In the Clydach Gorge, new housing developments former coal workings, is Llanelly Hill. There are should be in the style of traditional terraced patterns. shops, chapels and pubs in these settlements, and a • Derelict properties should be restored. primary school in Clydach North. 1.11 The population of Llanelly Community at the time 1.6 The community also has many hamlets and short of the 1991 census was 3,858 in 1,459 households, terraces of houses, built to house workers in past G2 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Plan: Proposals for Communities in former Gwent Adopted May 1999 Llanelly, Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina and Tredegar Communities the second highest population of any community in Rising land that has a particularly steep gradient to the National Park. This was 53% of the population the south-east. Development should follow the in the Park in Gwent. The Gwent Structure Plan traditional terraced pattern typical of Llanelly Hill. indicates that a maximum of 180 new dwellings are • Llanelly Hill: east of Pen-ffyddlwn likely to be needed in the National Park in the period 1991-2006. This has been divided between This site is bisected by a small stream which should the communities in proportion to their populations. be retained as a feature in the development if The number allocated to Llanelly is therefore 94. possible. Consideration should also be given to the relationship new development will have with the 1.12 Table G1 covers the period from 1 July 1991 to 7 July terrace below this site. 1998. It shows allocations made, permissions granted and dwellings built during the period, • Llanelly Hill: west of Waunllapria Estate including those completed from a prior This site forms a natural extension to the existing commitment. estate. New housing should relate well to existing 1.13 The population of Brynmawr Community is very dwellings. Care should be taken with treatment of small, and that of the other communities is nil, so the western boundary to ensure the edge is in no housing allocation has been made for them. sympathy with the surrounding countryside. 1.14 The village maps indicate white areas within which 1.15 Areas shaded light green are, for the purposes of housing development will be considered. These are this Local Plan, considered to be countryside. based on the comments made at public meetings Llanelly 2 and survey work. New housing development in light green areas Llanelly 1 will be considered against policies H5, H8, H10, Within the white areas on the proposals map, H11, H12, H13 and H14. applications for housing will be considered against policies H2, H3, H6, H7 and H14. Those white areas outlined in red and labelled H1 are Traffic sites for 6 or more dwellings where applications • Heavy lorries should be banned from villages. will be considered against policy H1 These are: • Car parking and speeding problems need resolving • Gilwern: between Broadmead and Lancaster throughout the area. Drive 1.16 The Welsh Office proposes to dual the A465T This site was previously allocated in the Gilwern Heads of the Valleys Road, and this will require Local Plan. On gradually rising ground, it could some land acquisition. The NPA supports this accommodate a range of housing types and proposal, and is working closely with the Welsh densities. These should be in small groups, broken Office on the details to ensure minimal adverse up by landscaping and areas of open space. Access environmental effect. The effects on the nearby could be from Lancaster Drive on the higher Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the National ground, and from Dan y Bryn on the lower ground. Nature Reserve must be considered. • Maesygwartha: opposite Old Rectory Close 1.17 There is already great disadvantage to residents Site with detailed planning permission for 10 living in Clydach as the A465T cuts the community houses. Any subsequent applications for this site in half. It is the intention of the NPA to ensure that would require an element of phasing. the design of any roadworks overcomes this • Clydach: Dan y Coed severance to the advantage of the residents. (See policies document chapter 9, paras. 9.13-14). A windfall site available due to the closure of a haulage yard located between groups of semi- Llanelly 3 Any improvements to the A465T should benefit detached houses. As building land is scarce in the residents by providing improved vehicle, Clydach, it is suggested that this site be developed cycle and pedestrian links in Llanelly at a reasonably high density in the form of a Community. courtyard of short terraces. Suitable for small households or possibly a sheltered housing Llanelly 4 complex.