Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan up to 2021 Adopted March 2011 Jane Cook Simon Gale Director of Regeneration & Planning Service Director Planning Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future 1 Foreword This Local Development Plan is an extremely important document for Rhondda to planning decisions that can affect any of us or all of Cynon Taf and provides the framework for decisions to be made up until 2021 us, depending on the development in question. on how land is used in the County Borough, for example what type of The next ten years promise to be a very exciting period development is appropriate or desirable and how best to protect our for Rhondda Cynon Taf and I am sure the LDP will environment. It is the culmination of a major piece of work that has included contribute to achieving further progress and benefits engaging with the community, stakeholders, and councillors over a number of for our residents and County Borough. years and its completion and adoption by the Council is a big milestone for Rhondda Cynon Taf. We believe the LDP provides a focus for sustainable regeneration and high quality development that will make Rhondda Cynon Taf a better place to live, work and play. Having the right planning policy in place is a key part of how we are trying to move our County Borough forward. It means that everyone can have a sense of confidence and reliability in terms of what it will look like in Councillor Russell Roberts the future and will enable this policy and framework to be applied consistently Leader, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council 2 Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future Contents Chapter 1 Introduction and Context ......................................5 Chapter 7 Monitoring and Review Framework……………..123 Introduction...................................................................5 Appendix 1 Detailed Allocations ..........................................145 Structure of Document..................................................6 a) Housing Allocations......................................................................145 Key facts about Rhondda Cynon Taf.............................7 b) Employment Allocations..............................................................152 Links to other Strategies................................................7 c) Retail Allocation............................................................................153 National Planning Policy and Technical Advice.........13 d) Major Highway Schemes..............................................................155 How to use the document...........................................13 e) Sites of Important Nature Conservation, Chapter 2 Key Issues in Rhondda Cynon Taf .........................15 Regionally Important Geological Sites and Local Nature Reserves...........................................................157 Chapter 3 Vision and Objectives ..........................................21 f) List of Settlements without Chapter 4 Core Strategy and Policies....................................25 Settlement Boundaries .................................................................161 Key Diagram ................................................................28 Appendix 2 Statutory Designations.......................................163 Core Policies.................................................................30 Appendix 3 Local Development Plan Evidence Base..............165 Chapter 5 Area Wide Policies...............................................45 Appendix 4 Glossary of Terms ..............................................181 Chapter 6 Strategy Area Policies ..........................................67 Northern Strategy Area................................................67 Appendix 5 List of Supplementary Planning Guidance ..........187 Southern Strategy Area................................................97 Appendix 6 Primary Shopping Area......................................189 Appendix 7 Infrastructure Requirements..............................191 Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future 3 4 Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future Chapter One Introduction and Context Introduction 1.1 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires Rhondda 1.3 The LDP will provide a policy framework that integrates and Cynon Taf County Borough Council to prepare a Local Development balances the social, economic and environmental issues in order to Plan (LDP) for the County Borough outside the Brecon Beacon meet the needs of those people living, working and visiting Rhondda National Park. The LDP will provide the development strategy and Cynon Taf. The fundamental principles of achieving sustainable spatial policy framework for the LDP area over a fifteen-year period development will underpin all land use decisions. The LDP will seek to 2021. The Plan will be used by the Council to guide and control to build a policy framework that protects important elements of the development, providing a basis for consistent and appropriate built, natural and cultural environment, improves town centres, decision-making. The northernmost part of the County Borough lies provides new sustainable housing, employment and community within the Brecon Beacons National Park. This area is subject to a facilities in appropriate locations, promotes integrated transport and separate development plan that is the responsibility of the National encourage opportunities for sustainable regeneration. Park Authority. 1.2 For convenience, in this document the LDP area is usually referred to as either “Rhondda Cynon Taf” or “the County Borough” which should be taken to mean the County Borough excluding the National Park. Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future 5 The Structure of the Document 1.4 This chapter sets out the context for the Deposit Draft LDP and describes 1.8 Chapter Five sets out detailed Rhondda Cynon Taf distinct area wide how it takes into account relevant strategies, policies and programmes. policies. This chapter includes area wide topic based and non-site specific These include the European Union Programmes, People, Places, Futures – policies, which provide a framework against which all future planning The Wales Spatial Plan, Planning Policy Wales and the Council’s Community applications will be considered. The policies are intended to ensure that all Plan. development within the County Borough contributes towards achievement of the Vision and Core Strategy. 1.5 Chapter Two provides the social, economic and environmental context for the LDP. Based on consultation and the LDP evidence base, the chapter 1.9 Chapter Six sets out ‘locally distinct’ policies for the Northern and Southern outlines the issues that impact on the future development of the County Strategy Areas respectively. The policy objectives for the Northern and Borough. Southern Strategy Areas are different and reflect the individual characteristics of the areas. The chapter provides detailed policies on issues 1.6 Chapter Three contains the Council’s Vision and Objectives for the LDP. It of identified importance within individual strategy areas. outlines the Council’s vision for the development of Rhondda Cynon Taf over the plan period and a detailed framework of land use objectives. The 1.10 Chapter Seven outlines the detailed monitoring framework for the Plan. objectives of the plan were developed in partnership with the Council’s The chapter provides indicators for each of the core policies and will LDP Forum and reflect the inter-relationship between people, activity and provide a framework for monitoring the effectiveness of the Plan. land use at the local level. 1.11 The Appendices include details of all allocations, evidence base, glossary 1.7 Chapter Four sets out the Core Strategy for Rhondda Cynon Taf. The chapter of terms, a list of sites of importance for nature conservation, statutory outlines the spatial strategy for guiding all future development and land designations and details of primary shopping areas. use in the County Borough during the plan period. The chapter also identifies the eight Strategic Sites which are crucial to the implementation 1.12 Detailed allocation and areas of protection are illustrated on the of the strategy. Detailed guidance is given in respect of the nature and accompanying proposals and constraints maps. form of development to take place on each site. 6 Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future Key Facts About Rhondda Cynon Taf Links to Strategies 1.13 Rhondda Cynon Taf covers an area of the South Wales Valleys stretching 1.15 Local Development Plans are intended to streamline the plan making from the Brecon Beacons in the north, to the outskirts of Cardiff in the process and promote a proactive, positive approach to managing change south. It comprises a mixture of urban, semi-suburban and rural and development. Key aims of the new system are to speed up the communities, situated in mountains and lowland farmland. preparation of the development plan, contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development, ensure plans are monitored and effectively 1.14 Rhondda Cynon Taf is the second largest Local Authority in Wales, formed reviewed, achieve more effective community involvement and develop in 1996 from the former Boroughs of Rhondda, Cynon Valley and Taff Ely plans that are more appropriate and responsive to changing local needs. (part). The County Borough covers an area of 424 square kilometres with a population of 231,946 (2001). The area has 75 electoral wards, of which 1.16 A key