Deposit Replacement Caerphilly County Borough Local Development Plan up to 2031 WRITTEN STATEMENT JANUARY 2016 Amnewidiad Adneuo Cynllun Datblygu Lleol Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffi li Hyd at 2031 DATGANIAD YSGRIFENEDIG IONAWR 2016 LEARNINGLEARNING HEALTHIER SAFER PROSPEROUSPROSPEROUS GREENER COUNCIL VERSION FEBRUARY 2016 FOREWORD Many people do not like change, but change is The Deposit Replacement Caerphilly County inevitable as communities evolve over time, the Borough Local Development Plan up to 2031 economy changes and diversifies, and development (Deposit Replacement LDP) presents the Council’s pressure on our valuable countryside increases from new Development Strategy to guide development our need to identify land for new homes and jobs up to 2031. It is significantly different from that to our quest to find sustainable sources of energy of the Adopted LDP and reflects more closely the generation to mitigate climate change. There is no relationship of Caerphilly with Cardiff and Newport doubt that Caerphilly is changing and we need to and also our position within the wider Cardiff Capital ensure that those changes are delivered sensitively Region. It aims to create a sustainable network of and do not compromise those aspects of the area towns and villages throughout Caerphilly that can that are valued by our citizens. capitalise on the County Borough’s position in the heart of the Cardiff Capital Region and outlines Caerphilly County Borough Council is committed proposals for key areas of planned change, important to a plan-led approach to new development. In sites for protection and specific sites to be used November 2010, we became the first Unitary for particular purposes for example employment, Authority in Wales to adopt a Local Development housing, education etc. Importantly it also identifies Plan. The Caerphilly County Borough Local key pieces of infrastructure (local and strategic) Development Plan up to 2021 (LDP) identified land necessary to support the planned development of for essential new development to meet the social and the area. economic needs of residents and business within the area. In October 2013 the Council resolved to review This is an exciting time. We have the opportunity that plan in order to maintain an up to date policy to shape the way in which our area will grow for framework. The new Replacement Caerphilly County decades to come. We must therefore ensure that the Borough Local Development Plan (Replacement LDP) planning decisions we take now, not only improve will cover the period up to 2031 and when adopted it the sustainability and well-being of Caerphilly will supersede the existing adopted LDP. now but also for future generations. This is your opportunity to get involved in shaping the future This ‘Deposit’ document represents a key stage in direction of growth in the county borough, please the preparation of the Replacement LDP. It has been take the time to make your views known so that we based on an extensive evidence base of specialist can take them into account. social, economic and environmental studies, and on the information gathered from the community’s Councillor K James response to the Draft Preferred Strategy that was the Cabinet Member, Regeneration, Planning & subject of public consultation in early 2015. I would Sustainable Development like to thank all of the members of the public and Caerphilly County Borough Council stakeholders and in particular the Caerphilly Business Forum that took the time to participate in this early This publication is available in Welsh, other stage of plan preparation, which has been critical languages or formats on request. in shaping this Deposit Replacement LDP. An initial Mae’r cyhoeddiad hwn ar gael yn Gymraeg ac mewn Consultation Report, which outlines how comments ieithoedd neu fformatau eraill ar gais. on the Draft Preferred Strategy have influenced the plan, accompanies this document. 1 PREFACE The preparation of the Local Development Plan has taken place over a number of years and has been prepared using the base date of 2011. The Planning system is dynamic and during this plan preparation period, development would have continued to take place on the ground and policy documents would have been produced, updated and revised. However the statutory framework for the preparation of the Plan identifies the Deposit Plan to be the point at which the Council publishes its complete plan. After publication of the Deposit Plan, the only changes that can be made to it are those recommended by the Inspector in his/her Report of Examination. There is no provision in the statutory framework for the Council to make changes to the plan itself. As a result the plan context reflects the circumstances that prevailed at the time of the publication of the Deposit Replacement Local Development Plan in 2016. Consequently there will be matters that are outdated, although this does not materially affect the policy content of the plan. 2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 06 STRATEGIC VISION FOR 2031 DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS 06 Key Aims and Objectives 25 The Development Plan and the Planning 06 Monitoring and Implementation 28 System The Local Development Plan Purpose 07 SECTION A - THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 30 National Legislation and Guidance 07 The Development Strategy 30 Regional Collaboration 07 Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area 32 Plan Preparation Procedure and Delivery (HOVRA) Agreement 08 Key Diagram Sustainability Appraisal (SA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Mid Valleys Corridor (MVC) – 34 Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) 09 Planned Area of Growth Tests of Soundness 10 Southern Connections Corridor (SCC) – 36 Caerphilly Basin & Lower Islwyn Form of the Plan 10 Caerphilly Basin – Planned Area of Growth 36 Supporting Documents and Strategies 11 Lower Islwyn 39 The Status of the Document & Cancellations 11 Key Components 40 Functional Analysis 40 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT 12 Areas of Significant Change 40 Delivering Sustainable Development 12 Strategic Transportation Network 41 National Planning Policy & Guidance 13 Housing Development 44 Minerals Planning Policy 13 Economic Development 45 National Policy Context 13 Natural Heritage 46 Regional Policy Context 15 Valleys Regional Park 46 Local Policy Context 16 Energy 46 KEY LAND USE ISSUES 19 Strategy POLICIES Introduction 19 SP1 Development Strategy – Healthier Caerphilly – Development in the Heads of Social Characteristics 20 the Valleys Regeneration Area 47 Prosperous Caerphilly – SP2 Development Strategy – Economic Characteristics 21 Development in the Mid Valleys Corridor 47 Greener Caerphilly – Environmental Characteristics 23 SP3 Development Strategy - Development in the Southern Safer Caerphilly 24 Connections Corridor 48 3 SP4 Settlement Boundaries 49 CW3 Sustainable Transport, Accessibility and Social Inclusion 61 SP5 Local Identity 49 CW4 Amenity 62 SP6 Settlement Strategy 49 CW5 Design Considerations - Highways 62 SP7 Areas of Significant Change – Strategic Sites to deliver CW6 Natural Heritage Protection 63 planned growth 50 CW7 Protection of the Water Environment 64 SP8 Retail Hierarchy 51 CW8 Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerow SP9 Place Making 52 Protection 64 SP10 Built Heritage 52 CW9 Protection of Open Space 65 SP11 Planning Obligations 53 CW10 Protection of Community and Leisure SP12 Community Infrastructure Levy 53 Facilities 65 SP13 Conservation of Natural Heritage 54 CW11 Protection of Rural Commercial Facilities 65 SP14 Climate Change Mitigation 54 CW12 Leisure and Open Space Provision 66 SP15 Climate Change Adaptation 54 CW13 Affordable Housing Planning SP16 Minerals 55 Obligation 66 SP17 Waste Management 55 CW14 Affordable Housing Exception Sites 67 SP18 Countryside Recreation 55 CW15 Creating Sustainable Communities – Housing for older people 67 SP19 Development of the Valleys Regional Park 56 CW16 Use Class: Business and Industry 69 SP20 Protection and Enhancement of CW17 Use Class Restrictions - Retail 70 Strategic Green Infrastructure 56 CW18 Use Class Restrictions - Retail SP21 Health and Well Being 56 Warehouse Parks 70 SP22 Total Housing Requirements 57 CW19 General Locational Constraints 71 SP23 Affordable Housing Target 57 CW20 Locational Constraints - Retailing 72 SP24 Managing Employment Growth 58 CW21 Locational Constraints - Retail SP25 Managing Tourism Growth 58 Warehousing 72 SP26 Transport Infrastructure Improvement 59 CW22 Locational Constraints - Housing for People in Need of Care 72 SP27 Road Hierarchy 59 CW23 Locational Constraints - Rural SP28 Safeguarding Former Rail Lines 59 Development and Diversification 73 SECTION B - COUNTYWIDE POLICIES 60 CW24 Locational Constraints - Conversion, Welsh Government – Extension and Replacement of Buildings in the Countryside 73 National Planning Guidance 60 CW1 Climate Change 60 CW25 Locational Constraints - Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites 75 CW2 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy in New Development 61 CW26 Locational Constraints - Minerals 75 4 CW27 Locational Constraints - TR2 New Rail Passenger Service 97 Mineral Site Buffer Zones 76 TR3 Safeguarding Freight Railheads 97 SECTION C – ALLOCATIONS AND TR4 New Rail Stations 98 DESIGNATIONS TR5 Park and Ride Facilities - Rail 98 SB1 Settlement Boundaries 77 TR6 Park and Ride Facilities - Car Share 99 MVC1 Strategic Site 1: Parc Gwernau, TR7 Transport Improvement Schemes 99 Maesycwmmer 77 TR8 New Roads to Facilitate SCC1 Strategic Site 2: South East Caerphilly 78 Development 100 SI1 Green Wedges 79 TR9 Regeneration Led Highway Improvements 101 NH1 Special