Planning Statement
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PLANNING STATEMENT CASTELL Y MYNACH ESTATE LAND SOUTH OF CREIGIAU (LDP ALLOCATION - SITE E) PLANNING STATEMENT On behalf of: Castell Y Mynach Estate In respect of: Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) Date: July 2019 Reference: 2999ca Author: GH DPP Planning Sophia House 28 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LJ Tel: 029 2066 0265 E-mail [email protected] www.dppukltd.com CARDIFF LEEDS LONDON MANCHESTER NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Castell Y Mynach Estate Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 5 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION .............................................................................. 7 3.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT .............................................................14 4.0 PLANNING POLICY ...........................................................................20 5.0 PLANNING ASSESSMENT .................................................................33 6.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .......................................................40 Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 3 CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION Castell Y Mynach Estate 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Planning Statement has been prepared in support of a planning application, submitted on behalf of Castell Y Mynach Estate, for: “Outline planning application, with all matters reserved except for strategic access, for the development approximately 650 dwellings, including open space (including play areas and areas of informal recreation), landscaping, sustainable drainage systems, vehicular accesses, improvement works to the existing highway network, pedestrian and cycle accesses and related infrastructure and engineering works.” 1.2 The application site, “Land south of Creigiau” reflects the allocation in Policy KP2 of the Cardiff Local Development Plan where it is referred to as Strategic site ‘E’. 1.3 This Planning Statement outlines the context within which the application is made and provides a detailed examination of the main planning considerations raised by the proposals, together with reasoned justification in support of the proposed development. The application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment and full suite of technical assessments which should be read alongside this planning statement. 1.4 The statement is structured as follows: • Section 2 provides a description of the characteristics of the site and surrounding area, and details regarding the planning history associated with the site; • Section 3 provides details of the development proposals; • Section 4 outlines the relevant planning policy framework in relation to the site and the development; • Section 5 assesses the proposals against relevant planning policy; • Section 6 sets out our conclusions. Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 5 CHAPTER 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION Castell Y Mynach Estate 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 This section describes the application site and its surrounding context. Surrounding Context 2.2 The site extends to around 38.9 hectares (ha) and is irregular in shape. It is situated directly south of the village of Creigiau, within administrative boundary of Cardiff Council. It lies to the north of Llanstrisant Road (A4119) and west of Cardiff Road, around 1km to the south of Creigiau Village Centre. Cardiff and Bridgend lie approximately 11km and 20km to the southeast and west respectively (Figure 2.1 below). Residential areas are located to the north and east of the site and open fields largely characterise the land to the south and west. 2.3 The village of Creigiau forms part of the Creigiau/St Fagans Ward which has a population of 5,153. Creigiau itself is estimated to have approximately 1,500 homes and a population of 2,400 people. Local amenities include a bilingual primary school, a golf club, a small Tesco Express convenience shop, a Post Office, a recreation ground managed by village residents, a GP surgery, and 'The Creigiau Inn' public house. In addition, there are bus stops located along Ffordd Dinefwr and Cardiff Road just north of the site. The site is therefore accessible by a number of transport modes. Figure 2.1: Land north of Llantrisant Road, Creigiau - Location Source: Google® maps 2.4 As identified in Figure 2.2 below, the Site is well located in terms of Llantrisant Road, which is the main route between Cardiff and Llantrisant. This area, termed the ‘North-West Corridor’, is identified as a ‘Strategic Opportunity Area’ under the Wales Spatial Plan (2008 update). Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 7 Castell Y Mynach Estate Figure 2.2: Land north of Llantrisant Road, Creigiau - Context Source: Cardiff LDP Schematic Framework Plan Site Description 2.5 The site extends to 38.9 Ha site and is in the sole ownership of Castell Y Mynach Estate but has been tenant farmed for several years. 2.6 The site identifies as three main parcels, the westernmost parcel consisting of mainly improved grassland and bound to the north east by Creigiau, the west by a small woodland, and south by a band of trees and Llantrisant Road. The central parcel consists of woodland, some of which is designated as Ancient Woodland, some marshy grassland and semi improved grassland. The central parcel and the eastern parcel is dissected by the former railway line with the eastern parcel commonly known as ‘Robin’s Hill’. 2.7 No buildings are present within the site boundary. The site consists mainly of semi – improved grassland and wet pasture. Hedgerows and landscape tree planting provide the majority of on – site and edge boundaries. The site is bordered to the north by the southern boundary of Creigiau village, which was developed on land previously owned by Castell Y Mynach Estate. 2.8 The former railway corridor dissects the eastern part of the site from north to south. It is raised towards the north of and at grade to the south. It largely consists of a level top with tree planting on either side along its length. It then passes underneath Llantrisant Road and continues south of the site. Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 8 Castell Y Mynach Estate 2.9 In relation to accessibility, the site is bounded by Llantrisant Road and Cardiff Road, which provided vehicle, pedestrian and cycle access. There are no designated cycle routes in proximity to the site. There is bus provision serving the site. To the south of the site, at Llantrisant Road (A4119), there are two bus stops at Hill Cottage and Henstaff Court respectively. Figure 2.3: Site Location Statutory Designations 2.10 The application site comprises mainly of grassland set amongst blocks and belts of woodland, hedgerows and trees. There is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the woodland within the site, however, the site is not subject to any statutory landscape designation and is not within a Green Belt. 2.11 As confirmed by the submitted Agricultural Land Assessment, the site is considered to be Subgrade 3b in quality and there is no policy constraint to non-agricultural development of this area. 2.12 There are no statutory nature conservation designations affecting the site, however there are some locally identified Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation – illustrated in figure 2.4 below. Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 9 Castell Y Mynach Estate Figure 2.4: Land north of Llantrisant Road, Creigiau - Context Listed Buildings Local Nature Conservation Sites TPO’s Source: Cardiff Council Online Mapping 2.13 There are no designated Public Rights of Way within the site. 2.14 In terms of flood risk, the Technical Advice Note 15 Development Advice Maps confirms that the site is not within any flooding designation. Some land to the west of the site, outside the application boundary is within Zone B. An extract from the ‘DAM’ maps is provided below: Figure 2.5: Extract from Technical Advice Note 15 Development Advice Maps Source: NRW Development Advice Maps Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 10 Castell Y Mynach Estate Relevant Wider Context 2.15 Located to the south of the site is Strategic Site D. Part of the site is under the Ownership of Castell Y Mynach Estate, however the remaining area is being developed by Persimmon Homes as part of the J33 Development (application ref. 14/00852/DCO) – see Figure 2.6 below. The description of the development of this site is as follows: “Comprehensive development of 'land to the north of junction 33 of the M4' to create a new community containing: a range of new homes, including houses, apartments and some sheltered accommodation for the elderly (use classes C2 and C3) a park and ride facility and transport interchange or hub community facilities including a new primary school and community centre (use class D1) a local centre including shops (use class A1), financial and professional (use class A2), food and drink (use class A3) and a clinic or surgery (use class D1) new offices, workshops, factories and warehouses (use classes B1, B2, B8) a network of open spaces including parkland, footpaths, sports pitches and areas for informal recreation new roads, parking areas, accesses and paths other ancillary uses and activities and requiring; site preparation, the installation or improvement of services and infrastructure; the creation of drainage channels; improvements/works to the highway network and other ancillary works and activities.” Figure 2.6 – J33 Persimmon Homes Development Land South of Creigiau (LDP Allocation - Site E) 11 Castell Y Mynach Estate 2.16 A number of discharge of conditions applications have been submitted and approved