Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Local Development Plan Talgarth Town Council Area Settlement Asssessments Including Talgarth Trefecca Pengenffordd September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Contents Introduction Community Profile Settlement Assessment XXXXX Step 1: Settlement Overview. Step 2: Land Availability Survey Step 3: Consultation Responses XXXXX Step 1: Settlement Overview. Step 2: Land Availability Survey Step 3: Consultation Responses 1 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Introduction This paper is one of a series of Community Assessment papers prepared by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) as part of the review of the evidence base for the Local Development Plan (LDP). This paper considers in detail planning issues arising in the Talgarth Town Council area, This includes Talgarth Town and the villages of Trefecaa and Pengenffordd. 2 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Purpose of Assessments The overall purpose is to establish, through a combination of desk surveys, consultations and site surveys, a set of policies and land allocations which are able to respond to the needs of each community whilst taking into account the special qualities of the National Park. To do this we carried out a ―3 step‖ survey Step 1— ―paint a picture‖ of the place and its qualities. (desk surveys) Step 2 —find out how much growth the place could take without harming the special qualities of the National Park (site surveys) Step 3 —take into account what people told us (consultations) technical experts (water, highways, drainage etc) Local Residents and Town and Community Councils This approach is reflected in the structure of the report prepared for each settlement. Structure of Settlement Assessment Reports Step 1: Settlement Overview. Step 2: Land Availability Survey Step 3: Consultation Responses 3 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Community Profile Unitary Authority: Powys County Council Geographical Location The community of Talgarth lies on the edge of the Black Mountains, their scarp and ridges forming the eastern third of its area. In the south-west corner is Mynydd Troed, either side of which streams run southwards to join the Usk. The farmed north-western foothills slope down to the Afon Llynfi, a tributary of the Wye. A small part of the community west of the Llynfi is outside the Park. The area has been settled since earliest times. There are Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows and two Iron Age hill forts, including the impressive Castell Dinas, later crowned by a Norman castle. Other mediaeval buildings include the tower house in Talgarth and the house and tower at Great Porthamal. The focus of the community is the town of Talgarth, which grew up on a Norman foundation where two important routes crossed. The older part lies around the church. A second centre later developed around the station, and further growth has taken place since the War. Talgarth is a local centre within the Park and neighbouring areas, with a cattle market, doctors' surgery, bank and shops. A major source of employment is the Mid Wales Hospital, which is scheduled for closure in 2000. The community’s second settlement is the village of Trefecca, famous for its Non-conformist College. There are also small or scattered groups of houses and farms at Pengenfordd and Waun- fach in the Rhiangoll valley. Settlements outside National Park Boundary The whole of Talgarth community lies within the National Park Boundary Settlements within National Park Boundary Talgarth, Trefecca and Pengenfordd Key Statistics Profile: [XXX] Community Council Area Key Statistics Profile: Talgarth Community Council Area Population There are 1645 residents within Talgarth Community Council Area. These residents make up 685 households, making the average household size to be 2.34 people. The average age of residents in 2001 was 42.32. This is high compared to the average age in the County of 41.72 and 39.50 across Wales. There is a relatively low number of young people living in the 4 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth area. The following chart shows the population figures by age. Housing In 2001 there were 727 dwellings available to house these 685 households. Of the remaining 42 dwellings, 29 were vacant and 13 were second residences or holiday homes. The majority of dwellings (479) are privately owned, With 206 being rented. (123 from public sector landlords and 83 from private sector landlords). The housing stock is predominantly houses (257 detached houses/bungalows and 409 semi- detached houses/bungalows or terraces). Only 61 dwellings were flats. The average number of rooms per dwelling is 5.72 . Employment & Qualifications Employment Rates Of the 1645 residents,1169 are of working age. Of these, 746 residents were employed. 31 were unemployed and 381 were economically inactive (retired or unable to work) The number of people who are retired is high for both Powys and Wales as a whole 5 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Travel to work The majority of people travel to work by private motor transport. Only 16 used public transport. A further 209 used alternative means of transport or worked from home. The average distance travelled to work was 19.29 miles. Welsh Language Only 23 % of the Community speak Welsh, This is in line with the figures for the County and Walse as a whole. Analysis Issues for the LDP to Address: 6 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Feedback from Community Consultations Talgarth Town Council held a consultation event on 4th July 2008. The full report of the event can be viewed on the authorities website. http://www.breconbeacons.org/the-authority/planning/strategy-and-policy/local- development-plan/community-engagement/community-feedback/ A summary of the findings of this event has been published in the Community Involvement Report. The relevant extract is shown below Talgarth Aspects of the Community that residents of Talgarth like include: Beautiful Area. Friendly People. Good Range of Shops. Good Schools. Aspects of the Community that residents of Talgarth don‟ t like include: Empty shops in Town Centre. Dilapidated Buildings. Not enough facilities for young people. Vandalism. Many residents would like to see the development of more shops in the Town Centre, particularly in the derelict buildings. This would help residents who have to leave the area to purchase necessities. Also, the conversion of some of the derelict shops into Affordable Housing units would be acceptable to some residents. Certain issues that residents would like to see addressed include: More Affordable Housing to rent and buy. Development the Mid-Wales Hospital Site. More activities for young people such as parks and play areas. Focus for Tourism Development in the Town. Response to Candidate Site Consultations In the Talgarth Town Council Area there were a total of 14 candidate sites included in the land availabity study. All were candidate sites which were assessed for their suitability as land allocations. There were no additional smaller sites which were considered for a review of the development boundary. 13 of the candidate sites are in Talgarth Town 1 sites is in Trefecca 7 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth The residents in the Talgarth Town Council area were engaged in the early consultations on these candidate sites. The following comments were submitted during the Town Council Event Comments on UDP Sites Community Comment BBNPA Response T9 – Land adjacent Doctors This allocation now has been granted outline Surgery - UDP allocation for 36 permission subject to the signing of the s106 Houses agreement. Comments: It will not be an allocation in the LDP. “Building should start on brownfield sites not greenfield land Use brown field sites opposite ( ie – Powys depot and wireguards.”) T6 Powys depot ( Mixed use site This site is allocated for mixed use. This means in UDP) that the NPA will expect to see a comprehensive Comments : “Good site for proposal for the whole site which will Affordable housing/local needs. Part incorporate both commercial and housing use. Any application under the UDP for housing will private housing , part social housing trigger the affordable housing policy which will combined with using the wireguards ensure that a proportion of the housing built will site” be housing for rent by registered social landlords and will be available in perpetuity. T 6 Wireguards Comments : “Why not housing ? Use old units for housing Use for factory units and leave our Greenfield sites alone” T7 . Triangular site north of The use of this site needs to be reconsidered Talgarth Joinery . during the site assessments. However, National Currently used for agriculture. Policy seeks to prevent allocations for employment use being lost to residential Designated in UDP as General Industrial B2 Comments: “Change to a mix use site as it’s not being used. Good site for housing Gateway for Talgarth. Sensitive site – needs exemplar buildings and design.” 8 Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan September 2009 Draft LDP Settlement Assessment: Talgarth Talgarth Market Comments: “Can EU money be used to secure its future ? Could be used for farmers’ markets etc as at Brecon Butter Market.” T2 Land for 13 houses behind the Bell hotel Comments : “ Better as a car park. Fewer houses more car parking” CAR PARK Comments. “Regular weekly markets. Remove recycling Remove recycling to a private allocated area away from car park Garden refuse skips too high for many women to lift bags into. Need for a direct footpath from car park to town centre New footpath from car park to the riverside and square.