LOCAL PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE NO.31 The and Welsh Communities his guidance note reflects national and local objectives and amplifies development plan policies contained in the TUnitary Development Plan designed to protect the Welsh language and Welsh communities. It provides guidance on how the Council will assess the likely future impact of relevant developments, individually or cumulatively, on the wellbeing of the Welsh language and Welsh Communities. The note will form a material consideration in the determination of all relevant planning applications for development.

1. Introduction Planning and the Welsh Language ­ The Way Ahead (December 2005). 1.1 Local planning authorities are advised not to discriminate against 2.2 Local policies are contained in individuals on the basis of their the Wrexham Unitary Development linguistic ability or control housing Plan. Development proposals will be occupancy on linguistic grounds. The assessed for their likely impact on future wellbeing locally of the Welsh the Welsh language and Welsh language and its contribution to communities under Policy GDP1, Welsh cultural heritage is dependent criterion j) which states that all new on a variety of key factors such as development should:

education, demographic change and e have regard to the need to Available in activities as well as safeguard those areas that 31 economic prosperity. The planning alternative formats possess a strong Welsh cultural system can also take account of the and / or linguistic identity from needs and interests of the Welsh development that could harm this language and its wellbeing by identity preventing development that could have a significantly harmful affect. 3. Welsh Language and 1.2 20.8% of the population of Community Impact Statement can speak Welsh. Within the County Borough, this figure is 14% 3.1 Specific thresholds of of the population and they are mainly development in the language located in the following wards: sensitive wards of Ceiriog Valley, Pant, Ponciau, , e Ceiriog Valley, Pant and Ponciau Johnstown, Penycae and will which contain 25% or more Welsh require a Welsh Language and speakers (2001 Census); and Community Impact Statement for the following developments on all e Coedpoeth, Johnstown, Penycae and Minera which contain the applicable outline, full and change of average number of 20.8% (2001 use applications: Census) or more Welsh speakers a) all residential applications for 25 or more units; 2. Planning Policy b) all employment proposals of 2ha Context and Guidance or more or those creating more than 50 jobs; 2.1 National planning policy requirements are contained in c) all retail development greater than Planning Policy Wales (July 2010) 2,000sqm; or and Technical Advice Note 20 The d) other developments which provide Welsh Language (June 2000). individually or cumulatively for Guidance is also contained in significantly more than local needs

The Welsh Language and Welsh Communities LOCAL PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE NO.31

comparison with local market (planning conditions or section 106 their application and will need to demand legal agreements) on the language take into consideration any other and the community. It will also allow recent, relevant developments 3.2 In the language sensitive the Council to decide if the proposal within these wards. wards, development which would have such an impact on the individually or cumulatively is likely language and community of the 3.5 The statement should address to have a significantly detrimental area to warrant a refusal of the key issues shown in Figure 1 impact on the needs, interests and permission. below. This is not intended to be wellbeing of the Welsh language an exhaustive list of considerations and identity will be resisted. 3.4 Even if the development and there may be more or less proposal does not in itself meet the issues to consider depending on 3.3 The purpose of the Welsh need for a community and language the individual nature of each Language and Welsh Communities impact statement (criterion a) - c) of application. Impact Statement is to allow the paragraph 3.1), developers should Council to screen the development be aware (criterion d, paragraph for likely significant linguistic and 3.1) of the potential cumulative community impacts. This will help impact their development could to decide what measures could be have on the Welsh language and put in place to reduce the impact Welsh communities in submitting

Process Guide 1. Explain with evidence how the development impacts on the Population with reference to the following: e Attracting non Welsh speakers into the locality; e Migration of Welsh speakers from the community; e Social integration into the Welsh community; 3.6 The evaluation of the Welsh e Change in community population age structure leading to movement of Welsh language and community impact speakers into or out of the area; statement, while not designed to 2. Explain with evidence how the development impacts on Housing for local provide a definitive analysis, people with reference to the following: should lead to a more informed e Local housing need including the amount and type of affordable housing; decision about the impact of the e Past rate of residential growth in the area; development on the social and e Increase the cost of local housing forcing local or Welsh speakers to leave the linguistic aspects of community life community or lead to an increase in homelessness amongst local or Welsh speaking households; in the Welsh wards of the County Borough. The results of the 3. Explain with evidence how the development impacts on the Economics of statement and any accompanying the locality with reference to the following: commentary will, together with a e The labour skills of local people; range of development plan and e Impact on any Welsh speaking or local businesses; other national and local policies, e Job opportunities for local or Welsh speakers; aid decision making and the e Creating economic diversity in the locality; delivery of sustainable 4. Explain with evidence how the development impacts on Education in the development. locality with reference to the following: e School capacity in the locality; e Loss or enhancement of education facilities due to an increase/decrease of students; e Altering the balance between Welsh speaking and non- Welsh speaking students; 5. Explain with evidence how the development impacts on the Infrastructure of the locality with reference to the following: e Local services - shops, schools, leisure and health services etc; e Making services more or less accessible to local people; For further information contact: e Adequacy of existing services to serve the new development 6. Other General considerations (with evidence): Chief Planning Officer e How will the proposal create new opportunities to promote the Welsh language Lambpit Street, and local initiatives within the community? Wrexham, LL11 1AR Telephone: (01978) 292019. e What mitigation measures including phasing are being proposed to alleviate any likely harmful impacts caused by the development? Adopted February 2011

The Welsh Language and Welsh Communities