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Home , Bridgend County Borough, Cornelly, Kenfig, Pyle

NEATH COUNCIL

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2011-2026)

EXAMINATION IN PUBLIC:

Matter 11: Alternative Sites

Action Point 1

The Council to provide the Pre-Deposit stage response of the County Borough of in respect of the proposed expansion of Coed Hirwaun.

Council’s Response

At the formal Pre-Deposit consultation stage, Council submitted the following representation in respect of the Spatial Strategy – Port Talbot Housing Options:

‘Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) is supportive of the Preferred Housing Option 2 (paragraph 8.2.9 refers) for the Port Talbot spatial area which seeks to disperse housing across the area rather than Option 1 which would have resulted in a concentration of housing on Coed Hirwaun. BCBC considers that the lack of facilities and employment opportunities at Coed Hirwaun would make growth in this area unsustainable and encourage car travel to services. Many of these services would have been located in Bridgend County Borough in the /North area which itself is not identified as an area of strategic growth in the Bridgend LDP and therefore not able to accommodate any extra pressure on services. The dispersal of housing across the Port Talbot area will ensure the infrastructural requirements are also dispersed’.

A full copy of the response from Bridgend County Borough Council is appended.

Pennaeth Adfywio a Datblygu Head of Regeneration & Development Y Gyfarwyddiaeth Cymunedau Communities Directorate Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Bridgend County Borough Council Swyddfeydd Dinesig Civic Offices Stryd yr Angel Angel Street PEN-Y-BONT AR OGWR BRIDGEND CF31 4WB CF31 4WB

Ff Ôn: 01656 643643 Telephone : 01656 643643 Ffacs: 01656 668249 Fax : 01656 668249

Gwefan: www.bridgend.gov.uk Website : www.bridgend.gov.uk

Direct line / Deialu Uniongyrchol: (01656) 643165 Ask for / Gofynnwch am : Mr Stuart Ingram

Our Ref / Ein cyf : RE.4/SAI Date / Dyddiad: 12 th October 2011

Mr O Lewis Planning Policy Manager County Borough Council The Quays Brunel Way Baglan Energy Park NEATH SA11 2GG

Neath Port Talbot Local Development Plan ‘Pre-Deposit’ Formal Consultation

Thank you for your letter of the 26 th August 2011 regarding the above.

Bridgend County Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to provide supportive comments on the Neath Port Talbot Pre Deposit Plan. These comments build on the regular liaison meetings between officers from both Councils which have proved extremely useful in shaping the policies of the Bridgend LDP. It is envisaged that this dialogue will continue to ensure that cross-boundary issues are discussed with the prompt resolution of any issues which may emerge.

All comments below relate to the Spatial Strategy and Strategic Policies sections.

Spatial Strategy – Port Talbot Housing Options Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) is supportive of the Preferred Housing Option 2 (paragraph 8.2.9 refers) for the Port Talbot spatial area which seeks to disperse housing across the area rather than Option 1 which would have resulted in a concentration of housing on Coed Hirwaun. BCBC considers that the lack of facilities and employment opportunities at Coed Hirwaun would make growth in this area unsustainable and encourage car travel to services. Many of these services would have been located in Bridgend County Borough in the Pyle/ area which itself is not identified as an area of strategic growth in the Bridgend LDP and therefore not able to accommodate any extra pressure on services . The dispersal of housing across the Port Talbot area will ensure the infrastructural requirements are also dispersed.

______Corporate Director – Communities Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol – Cymunedau Louise Fradd CONTINUATION Page 2 of 3

Strategy Paragraph 8.2.10 and Policy 8 – Gypsy, Travellers and Show People BCBC welcomes the proposal to accommodate additional permanent space for Gypsy, Travellers and Show People at Caegarw Farm near Village and supports Neath Port Talbot Council’s intention to investigate this issue further. Such investigation should also examine the need for social infrastructure (educational / health facilities) in the Bridgend County Borough area which presently the occupants of the existing site currently use. Growth in this site will inevitably lead to further increases in the use of existing, and the need for new, social and facilities in the Pyle / North Cornelly area. Bridgend County Borough Council would welcome the opportunity to work with Neath Port Talbot Council on the management arrangements which are to be put in place on any extension to the existing site.

Strategy Paragraph 8.2.2 and Policy 14 – Strategic Employment Sites BCBC welcomes the designation of Industrial Estate as a Strategic Employment Site and notes that 7.13ha (Employment Topic Paper refers) of the site is still available for development. Kenfig Industrial Estate is located very close to Bridgend County Borough and offers significant employment opportunities for its residents. BCBC supports the recognition of the existing transportation issues associated with the Water Street Railway Bridge and the identification of a solution which is being promoted through the South West Regional Transport Plan, supported by BCBC. These schemes are additionally promoted through Policy 29 of the Pre-Deposit Plan; which is also supported by the Council.

Strategy Paragraph 8.3.32 and Policy 16 – Tourism BCBC supports the identification and promotion of tourism developments linked to walking and cycling in the Afan Valley with the links these have with and the Upper Llynfi Valley in Bridgend County Borough.

Strategy Paragraph 8.2.26 and Policy 18 – Green Wedges BCBC notes the identification of a Green Wedge around Margam to protect the coalescence of Port Talbot and Pyle in Bridgend County Borough. However BCBC would like to point out that no Green Wedge exists to the north / west of Pyle within Bridgend County Borough. Further dialogue is requested with Neath Port Talbot Council on this issue to discuss the need / rationale for a Green Wedge in this area and if normal, strict countryside protection policies could apply.

Strategy Paragraph 8.8.19 and Policy 19 – Strategic Landscape Areas BCBC welcomes the inclusion of Strategic Landscape Areas in the Neath Port Talbot Pre- Deposit Plan. However, it would appear from an examination of the Key Diagram that there are several anomalies in the boundaries of SLAs across our local authority boundaries. This appears to be a curious situation given that it is our understanding that the same methodology and consultants were used to undertake this work. Further examination of these boundaries is requested to ensure consistency.

Policy 25 – Wind Farms BCBC notes that this policy may be repeating national policy in restricting large scale wind farms to Strategic Search Areas (SSAs). There is no mention in the Pre Deposit Plan of the refinement exercise which was carried out in 2006 in conjunction with the two Councils as well as the City and County of , County Council and Cynon Taff County Borough Council . Whilst BCBC respects the decision of Neath Port Talbot Council not to show refined areas on their strategic diagram, it does note the existence of the original SSAs on the Constraints Map. Further discussion on this issue may be needed between the two Councils to ensure their LDPs are consistent across the local authority boundaries.

______Corporate Director – Communities Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol – Cymunedau Louise Fradd CONTINUATION Page 3 of 3

Should you wish to discuss any of the above comments in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me on the above telephone number, or email [email protected].

Yours sincerely,

Stuart Ingram Principal Planning Officer (Development Planning)

______Corporate Director – Communities Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol – Cymunedau Louise Fradd