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Home , Ceiriog Ucha, Ceiriog Valley, Coedpoeth, Glyntraian, Rhosllanerchrugog

Wrexham Local Development Plan 2013 - 2028

TOPIC PAPER 11 - FEBRUARY 2016

Welsh Language

housing open space employment transport education

www..gov.uk / www.wrecsam.gov.uk

Welsh Language Topic Paper

1 Introduction

This document is one of a series of Topic Papers that has been produced in support of the Local Development Plan Preferred Strategy. The purpose of each paper is to provide supporting evidence to underpin the preparation of Local Development Plan (LDP).

Each Topic Paper demonstrates how it links into the LDP vision and relevant objectives, provides an analysis of particular issues that the subject area needs to respond to, including the national policy context, a review of local policy, current circumstances and trends, and finally highlights the implications for the Preferred Strategy and Deposit Plan going forward.

There will inevitably be a degree of overlap between some topics and issues, where there are links to other papers this will be highlighted accordingly. All the papers can be viewed on the Council website at www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp.

2 Context and Characteristics

The future wellbeing locally of the Welsh language and its contribution to Welsh cultural heritage is dependent on a variety of key factors such as education, demographic change and community activities as well as economic prosperity. The planning system can take account of the needs and interests of the Welsh language and its wellbeing by preventing development that could have a significantly harmful affect.

New development can have both beneficial and harmful effects on the Welsh language. Beneficial effects can occur when development encourages Welsh speakers to remain in their communities, for example affordable housing for local need in a primarily Welsh speaking area, or when it supports the viability of village facilities, such as the school. Providing employment opportunities can help retain Welsh speakers in the area and prevent them from migrating out of . Harmful effects can occur when a disproportionate number of non-Welsh speakers move into a community, when essential services or facilities needed to sustain communities and the Welsh language are lost or there are few employment opportunities. These can often have cumulative effects, for example, by reducing the use of the Welsh language among Welsh speakers.

Nationally 19% of the population of Wales can speak Welsh but within the County Borough, this figure is 12.6%1, the main focus for Welsh speaking is broadly within the and the Western hill villages (, , Penycae and ) with the Welsh speaking population ranging from 18.3% to 47%.

Welsh culture transcends language and encompasses national identity, sense of place and community, place names, sport, the arts and history. Locally there is a strong Welsh identity with a population that largely considers themselves to be Welsh2, Wrexham hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2011, is home to Glyndwr University and the Racecourse Football Ground (host for international football and rugby matches) and the Stiwt cultural centre is in

1 Census 2011 2 Census 2011 National Identity Page 1 of 18

Rhosllanerchrugog. Local landscape assets include the Ceiriog valley, Mountain and AONB contribute to the sense of culture and identity. Former coal mining villages retain a link to the historic past, evidence of the past industrial heritage such as coal spoil tips provide a strong visual clue to local identity. Heritage features such as Wrexham Parish Church, Miners Institute, Offa’s and Watts Dyke also contribute to local culture and identity. These cultural assets are mutually supportive of the Welsh language, they can help create a sense of identity and pride and they can support opportunities to speak and promote the language.

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3 National Policy Context and Supporting Evidence Base

The following section summarises the relevant national and local policy context which needs to be considered and taken account of when formulating the preferred strategy and subsequent deposit LDP. National Policy will not be repeated in the LDP, however the key themes to emerge from national policy will be addressed, and issues specific to the County Borough will be dealt with via locally specific policy if required.

Sustainability Appraisal Topic Paper 3: Community Wellbeing & Cohesion summarises the key points from national and international policy and guidance relevant to this paper, the key documents are listed below:

Primary Legislation

 Town and County Planning Act (1990);  the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, 2004 – introduced the Local Development Plan system in Wales, a statutory duty requiring the Welsh Government to prepare the Wales Spatial Plan and various reforms to development management provisions in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;  Planning (Wales) Act 2015;  Wellbeing of Future Generation (Wales) Act (2015); and  Town and Country Planning Act (1990)

Primary legislation sets out the law to manage and regulate development of land and establishes Local Development Plans as the statutory development plan for the local area. LDP’s should provide a firm basis for the rational and consistent decisions on planning applications and appeals with planning decisions made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The LDP should set out a clear vision for the area and have regard to the Wales Spatial Plan.

Planning (Wales) Act 2015 The Planning (Wales) Act introduces, for the first time, legislative provision for the Welsh language in the planning system. Taken together, Sections 11 and 31 ensure that the Welsh language is given consistent and appropriate consideration in both the preparation of development plans, and the making of planning decisions.

Section 11 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 makes it mandatory for all local planning authorities to consider the effect of their Local Development Plans on the Welsh language, by undertaking an appropriate assessment as part of the Sustainability Appraisal of the plan. It also requires local planning authorities to keep evidence relating to the use of the Welsh language in the area up-to- date.

Wellbeing of Future Generation (Wales) Act (2015) The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill was introduced into the National Assembly for Wales on 7 July 2014. The overall purpose of the Bill is to ensure that the governance arrangements of public bodies for improving the well-being of Wales take the needs of future generations into account. The protection of the Welsh language is intrinsically linked with purposes of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act through the following Wellbeing goal;

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A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language: A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate in the arts, and sports and recreation.

National Policy & Statutory Guidance

 Planning Policy Wales Ed. 8 – Chapter 4 (2016)  People, Places, Futures – The Wales Spatial Plan (2008 Update)  Technical Advice Note 20: Planning and the Welsh Language (Oct 2013)  Technical Advice Note 20: Planning and the Welsh Language (Consultation Jan-March 2016)

Planning Policy Wales sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Government and is supplemented by Technical Advice Notes. National policy and the TAN’s should be taken into account in the preparation of LDP’s and they may be material considerations in the determination of planning applications.

Planning Policy Wales edition 8 (Jan 2016) Local planning authorities must consider the likely effects of their development plans on the use of the Welsh language in the Sustainability Appraisal of their plans, and should keep their evidence up to date. All local planning authorities should include in the reasoned justifications to their development plans a statement on how they have taken the needs and interests of the Welsh language into account in plan preparation, and how any policies relating to the Welsh language interact with other plan policies.

It should be the aim of local planning authorities to provide for the broad distribution and phasing of housing development taking into account the ability of different areas and communities to accommodate the development without eroding the position of the Welsh language. Where possible, the planning system should seek to create conditions which are conducive to the use of the Welsh language. Appropriate development plan policies about the broad scale, location and phasing of new development could assist in achieving this aim. Policies relating to affordable housing could also be of benefit. However, policies must not introduce any element of discrimination between individuals on the basis of their linguistic ability, and should not seek to control housing occupancy on linguistic grounds.

Considerations relating to the use of the Welsh language may be taken into account by decision makers so far as they are material to applications for planning permission. If required, language impact assessments may only be carried out in respect of major development not allocated in, or anticipated by, a development plan proposed in areas of particular sensitivity or importance for the language. Any such areas should be defined clearly in the development plan.

Technical Advice Note 20; Planning and the Welsh Language Provides guidance on how the planning system considers the implications of the Welsh language when Local Development Plans (LDPs) are prepared, including the important roles of the Single Integrated Plan and LDP Sustainability Appraisal (SA).

Where the Welsh Language has been identified as a significant part of the social fabric of a community, the LDP should consider the impacts of the spatial strategy, policies and allocations on the Welsh Language, identifying mitigation if appropriate. The mechanism for doing so is the Sustainability Appraisal which can be used to inform the LDP spatial vision and objectives, strategic options and preferred strategy, deposit plan and alternative sites.

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Where a local authority does not consider the Welsh language to be of significance in any or some parts of the local planning authority area, the LDP should include reference either to the evidence that supports the absence of policies on land use and the Welsh language or to the lack of evidence that supports policies on land use and the Welsh language.

It is estimated that between 1,200 and 2,200 fluent Welsh speakers are moving out of Wales each year. One of the aims of the Welsh Government is to reverse this trend; the creation of jobs to sustain communities and the local economy is a key priority.

Strategic approaches to support the language might include; the distribution of economic growth; ensuring there is a sufficient level and range of economic opportunities including sites and premises to support and develop local communities; providing an appropriate mix of housing; positive promotion of local culture and heritage; planning for the amount and the spatial distribution of new development and infrastructure particularly where this would help to support community sustainability; phasing of strategic housing and employment developments; and directing strategic sites to communities where the evidence suggests that the likely impact on the use of the Welsh Language is positive.

Draft Technical Advice Note 20; Planning and the Welsh Language, Consultation Jan-March 2016 The main proposed changes relate to the following matters:

 The link between planning for the Welsh language through land-use planning and community planning;  providing clarification that decision makers may take the language into account where it is material to the application; and  allow language impact assessments in certain specified circumstances

Local Policy and Strategy

Our Wrexham Plan 2013-2024 The Local Service Board Plan for Wrexham has set the following agreed priorities for Wrexham: 1. Making Wrexham a place where people can live independently and are healthy and active; 2. Making Wrexham a place with a strong, resilient and responsible economy; 3. Making Wrexham a place that’s safe and where everyone feels included.

Council Plan 2015-2017 (WCBC) Within the plan are four strategic themes, of which ‘People’ has the outcome of – ‘Welsh language and culture is promoted and supported’. We will build on the County Borough’s heritage, its cultural history, and its art scene, promoting Wrexham as a hub for cultural events. By 2017 more children and adults will be using Welsh, and the Welsh language will be seen and heard more often throughout the County Borough.

Evidence Base - A number of background documents which will inform the Welsh Language Topic Paper:  Background Paper 1: Population and household projections with dwelling and employment impacts (February 2016);  Background Paper 2: Settlement Hierarchy and Development Potential (February 2016);  Topic Paper 1: Housing (February 2016);  Topic Paper 2: Economy and Employment (February 2016); and

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 Topic Paper 7: Historic Environment (February 2016);

Local Planning Guidance Note 31: The Welsh Language and Welsh Communities (Feb 2011) Development proposals will be assessed for their likely impact on the Welsh language and Welsh communities. Specific thresholds of development in the language sensitive wards of Ceiriog Valley, Pant, , Coedpoeth, Johnstown, Penycae and Minera will require a Welsh Language and Community Impact Statement for the following developments on all applicable outline, full and change of use applications: a) all residential applications for 25 or more units; b) all employment proposals of 2ha or more or those creating more than 50 jobs; c) all retail development greater than 2,000sqm; or d) other developments which provide individually or cumulatively for significantly more than local needs comparison with local market demand

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Evidence

Census 2001-2011

Table 1: Welsh Speaking Trends3

% able to % able to speak speak Welsh Welsh % change LA Community 2001 2011 WCBC 14.6 12.9 -1.7 Wrecsam 13 13.2 0.2 Wrecsam Acton 11.9 11.4 -0.5 Wrecsam Bangor Is-y-coed 12.2 9.9 -2.3 Wrecsam 9.5 9.1 -0.4 Wrecsam Broughton 11.4 10.8 -0.6 Wrecsam 17.5 14 -3.5 Wrecsam 10 9 -1 Wrecsam 14.3 11.3 -3 Wrecsam 46.7 47 0.3 Wrecsam 11.6 10.7 -0.9 Wrecsam Coedpoeth 21.3 18.3 -3 Wrecsam 8.9 6.9 -2 Wrecsam 17.9 13.9 -4 Wrecsam 27 22.8 -4.2 Wrecsam 10.6 10.3 -0.3 Wrecsam 10.5 11.6 1.1 Wrecsam Hanmer 10.4 7.3 -3.1 Wrecsam Holt 7.1 8.3 1.2 Wrecsam 6.4 8.9 2.5 Wrecsam Rural 16.4 13.5 -2.9 Llansantffraid Glyn Wrecsam 36.9 33.2 -3.7 Ceiriog Wrecsam Llay 10.2 10.9 0.7 Wrecsam South 10.4 8.8 -1.6 Wrecsam 11.7 10.2 -1.5 Wrecsam Minera 20.8 18.5 -2.3 Wrecsam Offa 14.5 12 -2.5 Wrecsam Overton 9.7 8.8 -0.9 Wrecsam Penycae 21.8 19.1 -2.7 Wrecsam 13.1 11.7 -1.4 Wrecsam Rhosllanerchrugog 31.5 24 -7.5 Wrecsam 7.6 8.5 0.9 Wrecsam Ruabon 13.8 13.2 -0.6 Wrecsam 13.8 11 -2.8 Willington -2.2 Wrecsam 8.1 5.9 Worthenbury

3Welsh Language Commissioner http://www.comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru/English/Policy,%20research%20and%20data/Census%20Data/Pages/2011Ce nsusresultsbyCommunity.aspx Page 7 of 18

Summary points from Table 1;  Overall the proportion of Welsh speakers in the County Borough (12.9%) is below the national average (19%);  Welsh is a minority language in all communities but it approaches 50% in Ceiriog Ucha;  There are several communities where the use of Welsh approaches or exceeds the national average of 19%, these are broadly within the Ceiriog valley and the Western hill villages (Coedpoeth, Glyntraian, Minera, Penycae and Rhosllanerchrugog);  Broadly Welsh speaking has declined since the 2001 census (14.6% in 2001 to 12.6% in 2011), partly due to a fall in the numbers of Welsh speaking but also due to an increase in non-Welsh speakers living in the County Borough;  Welsh speaking within the communities that make up Wrexham town (Abenbury, Acton, Caia Park, Offa and Rhosddu) range from 10-14.5%.

Figure 1: Welsh Speaking by Community

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Figure 2: % of people able to speak Welsh by local authority area

Figure 3: Change in the % of people able to speak Welsh by local authority area

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Table 2: Welsh language > Welsh speakers by local authority and broader age groups, 2001 and 2011 census4

2001 2011 Able to Not able to Total Percentage Able to Not Total Percentage speak speak able to speak able to able to Welsh Welsh speak Welsh speak speak Welsh Welsh Welsh Age: All ages 3+ 18105 105919 124024 14.6 16659 112766 129425 12.9 3-4 344 2,708 3,052 11.3 526 2,884 3,410 15.4 5-15 5,724 12,108 17,832 32.1 5,271 11,718 16,989 31 16-19 1,239 5,332 6,571 18.9 1,277 5,130 6,407 19.9 20-44 4,075 39,548 43,623 9.3 4,068 40,192 44,260 9.2 45-64 3,381 28,960 32,341 10.5 2,844 32,664 35,508 8 65-74 1,576 9,157 10,733 14.7 1,249 11,267 12,516 10 75+ 1,766 8,106 9,872 17.9 1,424 8,911 10,335 13.8

Summary points from Table 2;  Welsh speaking is more common amongst the 3-19 age group;  There has been a decline since 2001 in Welsh speakers across nearly all age groups;  There has been a particular decline in the number of Welsh speakers in the 45+ age groups;

Table 3: Welsh Language School Admissions5

Admission Admission Capacity New Increase % Admitted Number Number Capacity In Spaces Increase 2012-2013 2015-2016

Min Y Ddol 14 15 98 98 0 0 20

Bodhyfryd 49 49 343 343 0 0 60

Plas Coch 27 45 189 315 126 66.67% 45

ID Hooson 29 45 203 315 112 55.17% 45

Bro Alun 0 30 0 210 210 100% 30 Bryn Tabor 42 42 294 294 0 0 45 161 225 1127 1575 448 245

Summary points from Table 3;  Welsh medium admissions and capacity increased between 2013-2016 to meet growing demand for Welsh education provision

4 Statswales; database WLSH0003 5 Lifelong Scrutiny Committee Meeting, report HLL/17/15 Page 10 of 18

Table 4: National Identity (Census 2011)

Wrexham County Wales Borough All people 134844 3063456

Welsh Welsh only identity 70090 52 1761673 57.5 Welsh and British only identity 9189 6.8 217880 7.1 Other Welsh combined background identity 2031 1.5 38128 1.2 No Welsh identity 53534 39.7 1045775 34.1

English English only identity 19651 14.6 343752 11.2 English and British only identity 2430 1.8 47044 1.5 Other English combined background identity 1948 1.4 33423 1.1 No English identity 110815 82.2 2639237 86.2

Scottish Scottish only identity 631 0.5 15177 0.5 Scottish and British only identity 110 0.1 2217 0.1 Other Scottish combined background identity 64 0 2118 0.1 No Scottish identity 134039 99.4 3043944 99.4

Northern Irish Northern Irish only identity 194 0.1 4208 0.1 Northern Irish and British only identity 33 0 624 0 Other Northern Irish combined background identity 20 0 767 0 No Northern Irish identity 134597 99.8 3057857 99.8

British British only identity 23537 17.5 519165 16.9 British and any other identity 12616 9.4 286950 9.4 No British identity 98691 73.2 2257341 73.7

Irish Irish only identity 376 0.3 9872 0.3 Irish and British only identity 8 0 322 0 Irish and Northern Irish only identity 2 0 48 0 Irish, Northern Irish and British only identity 1 0 19 0 Irish and at least one of English / Welsh / 30 Scottish identities (with or without British) 0 934 0 Irish, Northern Irish and at least one of English / 0 Welsh / Scottish identities (with or without British) 0220 No Irish identity 134427 99.7 3052239 99.6

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Other Other identities only 6615 4.9 105283 3.4 Other identities and at least one of English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British only 482 0.4 13299 0.4 At least one of English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British identities only 127747 94.7 2944874 96.1

Summary points from table 4:  While the local sense of identity is less Welsh than the national average the majority of the local population consider themselves to be Welsh.

Table 5: Identity by community (Census 2011)

Welsh Other Welsh Welsh and Welsh only combined No Welsh All People British only identity background identity identity identity England & Wales 56,075,912 3.7 0.5 0.2 95.7 Wales 3,063,456 57.5 7.1 1.2 34.1 Wrexham County 134,844 52.0 6.8 1.5 39.7 Borough Abenbury 1,678 51.3 8.9 0.8 39.0 Acton 13,479 54.8 7.6 1.4 36.3 Bangor Is-y-coed 1,110 38.2 5.3 1.5 55.0 Bronington 1,242 17.9 3.1 1.7 77.3 Broughton 7,454 60.0 6.5 1.6 31.9 Brymbo 4,836 55.0 7.1 1.7 36.2 Caia Park 12,602 52.6 6.5 1.8 39.1 Cefn 7,051 61.3 6.9 1.9 29.9 Ceiriog Ucha 317 47.6 3.2 4.4 44.8 Chirk 4,468 48.9 7.0 1.6 42.5 Coedpoeth 4,702 63.0 6.2 1.5 29.3 Erbistock 383 43.9 7.6 0.5 48.0 Esclusham 3,515 59.2 8.1 1.0 31.7 Glyntraian 822 42.5 3.5 2.3 51.7 Gresford 5,010 35.7 7.6 1.2 55.5 Gwersyllt 10,677 56.8 7.4 1.7 34.2 Hanmer 665 23.8 2.1 1.1 73.1 Holt 1,521 32.7 4.3 1.4 61.7 Isycoed 388 40.5 2.3 2.6 54.6 2,059 53.5 7.6 0.9 37.9 Llansantffraid 1,040 47.4 5.0 2.6 45.0 Llay 4,814 54.1 8.3 1.5 36.1 1,268 27.5 5.3 1.3 65.9 Marchwiel 1,379 49.8 6.2 1.9 42.1 Minera 1,617 56.5 6.9 2.2 34.3 Offa 10,501 42.4 6.7 1.3 49.6 Page 12 of 18

Overton 1,382 34.8 2.7 1.4 61.1 Penycae 3,389 63.3 6.9 1.8 28.0 Rhosddu 6,840 49.9 6.8 1.1 42.1 Rhosllanerchrugog 9,694 65.3 7.4 1.6 25.7 Rossett 3,231 27.3 4.7 1.0 66.9 Ruabon 4,274 53.1 7.9 1.3 37.7 Sesswick 609 42.7 6.1 1.1 50.1 Willington Worthenbury 827 20.3 2.1 0.8 76.8

Summary points from table 4:  There are several wards where Welsh identity is higher than WCBC average mainly in the Western villages; Broughton, Brymbo, Cefn, Coedpoeth, Esclusham, Gwersyllt, Llangollen Rural, Llay, Minera, Penycae, Rhosllanerchrugog and Ruabon but also in Acton and Caia Park;  There are several areas where English identity is higher than local average, mainly in the east and Maelor; Bangor, Bronington, Hanmer, Isycoed, Holt, Maelor South, Marchwiel, Overton, Rossett, Sesswick, Worthenbury; there are also pockets within the town of Wrexham (Offa, Rhosddu) and anomalies in the Ceiriog (Chirk and Ceiriog Ucha).

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4 Objectives, Issues and Drivers

Vision

The Preferred Strategy sets out the vision, objectives, key issues and drivers for the County Borough.

Objectives

The vision for the Wrexham LDP is supported by objectives which set out what the plan is trying to achieve taking into account the vision and sustainability principles. Welsh Language relates to the following LDP objective:

Objective SO7: Conserve, enhance and promote the local culture, character and distinctiveness of Wrexham including the Welsh Language.

Issues

Further to the above issues and drivers highlighted in the Preferred Strategy, a review of the existing evidence base surrounding the housing, including national and local policy, guidance and strategies outlined in Section 3 and comments received during the Key Stakeholder consultation on the Vison, Objectives and Strategic Growth paper, has identified the following additional issues and drivers that should be taken into account.

 Welsh language and Culture is a distinctive part of the fabric of some communities in the County Borough;

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5 Implications for the LDP

The following table provides a summary of the key issues/themes which have emerged from the policy context, local evidence base and LDP pre-deposit consultation. This table is based on the guide to the application of national planning policy statements as contained at the end of each chapter in Planning Policy Wales (Edition 8, January 2016). They do not repeat national Development Management Policy contained on a national level.

Issue Source of Locati Topic Include in Preferred Strategy Include in Deposit LDP Evidence/ Policy onal Based Consi Policy Context derati ons Undertake an appropriate Planning Wales Act The SA provides a framework by Final SA report to detail Welsh language assessment of the effects of the which the effects of the LDP on impacts on the complete deposit plan. LDP on the Welsh language as Welsh language can be assessed by part of the Sustainability using the SA sub-objective ‘Promote Appraisal of the plan the Welsh language, distinctiveness and culture’. The plan vision, objectives, policies and strategic allocations were considered for how they impact on this sub-objective. The Initial SA report details any issues of significance. Promote and protect culture, Wellbeing of Future  LDP Objective 7 seeks to conserve, Criteria/Topic based policy and SPG’s to; heritage and the Welsh language, Generation (Wales) enhance and promote the local protect Welsh language sensitive areas; and encourage people to Act (2015) culture, character and distinctiveness protect the World heritage site, buildings at participate in the arts, and sports of Wrexham including the Welsh risk, conservation areas, listed buildings, and recreation language. heritage assets, archaeological remains; preserve, protect or enhance tourism, sport Policies SP5 and SP10 protect and and leisure facilities; promote good design; enhance natural, historic and cultural protect the AONB and SLA’s. Promote a assets. diversified town centre encouraging arts and leisure based development. Under the Wellbeing theme of ‘Vibrant Culture and Thriving Welsh Language’ a road map for how the LDP will contribute is set out. Provide for the broad distribution Planning Policy The bulk of the growth strategy is Site allocations and regeneration policies to and phasing of housing Wales edition 8 located in areas which are not Welsh be sensitive to the opportunities to promote development taking into account language sensitive areas. Welsh language and its sensitivities. the ability of different areas and

Page 15 of 18 communities to accommodate the Some growth has been directed to development without eroding the Welsh language sensitive areas position of the Welsh language which can help sustain these villages, the impacts of growth will be managed in the Deposit Plan. Where the Welsh Language has Technical Advice Pockets where the Welsh language is The deposit plan to be mindful of the Welsh been identified as a significant Note 20 a part of the social fabric have been language sensitive areas, see below. part of the social fabric of a identified but in general these areas community, the LDP should are not strategic to the delivery of the Sense of Welsh identity and sense of place consider the impacts of the Preferred Strategy. These sensitive to be encouraged through Deposit plan spatial strategy, policies and areas have informed the SA. policies and SPG. allocations on the Welsh Language, identifying mitigation if Infrastructure (community facilities and appropriate education provision) to be supported in the Deposit plan. Where a local authority does not Technical Advice The Census data provides evidence The deposit plan to be mindful of the Welsh consider the Welsh language to Note 20 supporting the view that Welsh language sensitive areas, see below. be of significance in any or some language use is low (below Welsh parts of the local planning average) in the majority of local authority area, the LDP should communities but sense of Welsh include reference either to the identity is high. Sensitive areas evidence that supports the identified in the same data. absence of policies on land use and the Welsh language or to the Objective SO7 and policy SP10 lack of evidence that supports provide the hooks to protect Welsh policies on land use and the language where it is significant. Welsh language Welsh speakers are moving out Technical Advice The growth strategy of the LDP can Detailed policies to emerge in the Deposit of Wales each year. One of the Note 20 provide the foundations with which to plan, policies to be sensitive to impacts on aims of the Welsh Government is address this issue – Chapter 4 Welsh language sensitive areas, in particular to reverse this trend; the creation Strategic Growth Options. Also see the provision for local businesses, SME’s, of jobs to sustain communities strategic policies SP1, SP3, SP7 farm and rural diversification, tourism and and the local economy is a key (Housing), SP8 (settlement hierarchy) protection of existing employment areas priority and SP9 (key sites). (Rhosllanerchrugog, Coedpoeth, Chirk). Strategic approaches to support Technical Advice The settlement hierarchy supports Detailed policies to emerge in the Deposit the language might include; the Note 20 growth in several of the Welsh plan, policies to be sensitive to impacts on distribution of economic growth; language sensitive areas Welsh language sensitive areas, in particular ensuring there is a sufficient level (Coedpoeth, Rhosllanerchrugog, the provision for local businesses, SME’s, and range of economic Glyn Ceiriog and Penycae) that can farm and rural diversification, tourism and opportunities including sites and help sustain communities. protection of existing employment areas premises to support and develop (Rhosllanerchrugog, Coedpoeth, Chirk). local communities; Glyntraian and Minera are small rural

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communities that will not be suitable for growth but can benefit from opportunities in Coedpoeth, Chirk and Glyn Ceiriog. Policy SP1 supports rural, tourism and leisure development which would be of particular benefit to the isolated communities in which Welsh speaking is relatively high. Strategic approaches to support Technical Advice The settlement hierarchy supports Detailed policies to emerge in the Deposit the language might include; Note 20 growth in several of the Welsh plan, policies to be sensitive to impacts on providing an appropriate mix of language sensitive areas Welsh language sensitive areas, in particular housing; (Coedpoeth, Rhosllanerchrugog, the effects of scale, phasing, supply of Glyn Ceiriog and Penycae) that can affordable housing, impact on house prices to help sustain communities. be considered.

Glyntraian () and Minera are small rural communities that will not be suitable for growth but can benefit from opportunities in Coedpoeth, Chirk and Glyn Ceiriog. Policy SP8 supports small scale infill and windfall and affordable housing rural exceptions development in the smaller villages.

Policy SP7 provides the hooks to provide a mix of housing. Strategic approaches to support Technical Advice Strategic policies SP10 and SP11 See response for Wellbeing objective above. the language might include; Note 20 provide a framework to promote positive promotion of local culture these issues. and heritage; Allow language impact Technical Advice This is not a strategic issue for the The evidence base has identified language assessments in certain specified Note 20 – Draft Preferred Strategy but the hooks for sensitive communities (Ceiriog Ucha, circumstances 2016 subsequent SPG or Deposit plan Coedpoeth, Glyntraian, Minera, Penycae and policy requiring language impact Rhosllanerchrugog), deposit plan to support assessments are in place with an SPG or policy requiring language impact Objective SO7 and Policy SP10. assessments in these areas.

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