Opportunities in Blaenau Gwent
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Discover Housing Opportunities in Blaenau Gwent HOUSING PROSPECTUS October 2018 HOUSING & INNOVATION IS IMPORTANT TO US In Blaenau Gwent we recognise that increasing the volume, choice and quality of housing is integral to our wider social and economic regeneration plans. A strong housing programme not only provides homes but is key to creating connected and sustainable communities. Local facilities including improving Education establishments with, well being and quality at their heart will support the housing offer. Connectivity through improving infrastructure including a new direct rail link to Cardiff Central Station, fast links to the M4 and M5 motorways and recent removal of the Severn Bridge tolls, offer further incentives. We’re a 2 ½ hour drive to London, a 1 ¾ hour drive to Birmingham and a 1 hour drive to Cardiff International Airport. Driving forward our housing aspirations will ensure we have quality homes where people want to live; in turn supporting a strong and skilled local workforce to meet the demands of indigenous business and emerging inward investment opportunities, as well as maximising spend within our local economy. OUR PLANS Our plans are ambitious and challenging but we believe that the time is right to capitalise on the exciting opportunities that lay before us including Cardiff City Deal, METRO and Tech Valleys investment; and exploit the existing assets of the area, not least the proximity to the beautiful natural landscape such as the Brecon Beacons. WORKING TOGETHER We are keen to explore opportunities and work with housing developers, the starting point for which is to promote the range of high quality sites we have available for you to develop. Unmet demand together with a pro development Council and officers available to assist in a project team approach are some of the opportunities we offer. 2 BLAENAU GWENT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE Blaenau Gwent is an area steeped in industrial heritage, surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and home to friendly and passionate communities; it offers a wealth of untapped potential, which alongside a range of emerging opportunities, makes it an ideal time to consider investing. ENTERPRISE ZONE STATUS INFRASTRUCTURE Ebbw Vales Enterprise Zone Status has enabled The infrastructure to support housing and Blaenau Gwent to confirm it position as a strategically employment growth is in place. important area in the region with a focus on advanced manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical and • Rail link to Cardiff re-opened providing hourly food businesses. Investment through the Enterprise service Zone has provided a platform on which further • Dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road opportunities can be explored not least through City • Road network improvements to support the two Deal and Valleys Tech Park. The aspiration is that main regeneration sites of Ebbw Vale North and The these opportunities will; Works. • Improve the physical infrastructure of the area HOUSING INVESTMENT • Improve connectivity within Blaenau Gwent and beyond Our aim is to stabilise the population and this will • Support existing indigenous businesses to grow require the provision of at least 250 new houses per • Attract significant inward investment and annum to 2021. We expect at least 10% of the houses associated employment to be affordable. • Support the upskilling of the local work force • Promote learning, skills and training opportunities Where appropriate we would be keen to explore for the population available funding opportunities to support development opportunities, such as Welsh Beyond this we are exploring how best to support the Government’s Innovation in Housing funding. wider economy through digital and energy innovation, supporting our foundational economy sectors and Blaenau Gwent is part of the Cardiff Capital City Region re-defining our town centres. The realisation of these and through City Deal there is Housing Investment fund opportunities will all support and enhance our housing available to support the development of a number of aspirations. the sites identified within this document. Whether it is a guarantee, loan or grant or a combination of all three will depend on the circumstances but would be a further opportunity to encourage housing development in Blaenau Gwent. Tel: 01495 355539 | Web: www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 3 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ABOUT THE SITES OPPORTUNITIES This prospectus has been produced to provide The larger sites are located in the northern part of developers and investors with a list of the major the Borough in Ebbw Vale, Tredegar and Upper Ebbw housing development opportunities in Blaenau Fach. Lower Ebbw Fach is more constrained and Gwent. It is intended to summarise the known opportunities here tend to be smaller in size. housing development opportunities in order that prospective developers, either from the private Within this document the key sites are listed within sector or Registered Social Landlords are aware of the following defined geographical areas as listed: these opportunities and are incentivised to pursue • Ebbw Vale (Ebbw Fawr Valley) them. This document: • Tredegar (Sirhowy Valley) • Upper Ebbw Fach • Identifies the overall levels of housing growth that • Lower Ebbw Fach the Council is aiming to deliver. • Gives an overview of the factors which have a key influence over the delivery of housing sites including development infrastructure. Trefil EBBW A465 • Sets out actions that will be undertaken/are VALE BRYNMAWR underway to enable housing site delivery. A465 Nantyglo A4046 The general focus of this document is on the delivery TREDEGAR A467 Blaina of large scale development sites (over 10 units), as it is recognised that these will be of greatest interest A4048 to developers. It is these larger sites that make the most significant contribution to meeting the overall A4046 levels of growth identified in the Blaenau Gwent Local Cwmtillery Pochin Development Plan. ABERTILLERY KEY Cwm Sirhowy Valley OVERALL LEVELS OF Ebbw Fawr Valley Six Bells Upper Ebbw Fach Valley Brynithel HOUSING GROWTH Lower Ebbw Fach Valley A Roads The overall objective of the Council is to stabilise Rail Link the resident population at 71,000 which means that Proposed Rail Link we need to plan for significant new development to meet the needs of the population in light of a reducing household size. This will also ensure that we build a prosperous economy for the future. Over the period of 2006-2021 3,500 additional dwellings are required. Delivering this number of homes will require focusing significant development into a number of key locations which will provide homes, jobs and supporting facilities. This ensures a focussed approach to driving forward major sites which act as catalyst for wider development in the surrounding areas. 4 EBBW VALE (EBBW FAWR VALLEY) The Ebbw Fawr valley is the largest of Blaenau Gwent’s valleys and has the largest share of the overall population. Ebbw Vale is the main hub and administrative centre for Blaenau Gwent. The vibrant town centre contains over 100 units. Ebbw Vale also has a retail outlet (Festival Park) which also offers leisure facilities to attract visitors. Ebbw Vale Sustainable Regeneration Framework The main development opportunities are: (Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) (adopted in 2011). 1 Ebbw Vale Northern Corridor 2 The Works Provides a vision and strategy to complement and 3 Pant-y-Fforest enhance the vibrancy of Ebbw Vale. It proposes significant mixed-use retail, office, employment, leisure, housing and office development taking place within Rassau Ebbw Vale to provide improved economic opportunity. Ind Est This strategy is embedded within the Blaenau Gwent Local Development Plan. The Ebbw Vale North site delivers the housing element of this SPG. 1 3 The Works Design and Masterplan SPG (adopted in 2013) EBBW VALE TOWN CENTRE Provides a vision and strategy for the regeneration of the former steelworks in Ebbw Vale this includes 2 transforming the site into a vibrant and distinctive area. The Works is widely recognised across Wales and the UK as a major sustainable regeneration project driven by four objectives; economic, social, resources and environmental, all of which give the project its Festival Park sustainable credentials. It’s a multi-million pound Cwm project that has already delivered a learning zone, hospital, central valley wetland park, refurbished Grade II Listed Building, office space, 2 km railway extension and KEY a mechanical link to the town centre. Ebbw Fawr Valley Settlement Area Remaining development opportunities include business Housing Site development, mixed use and housing. A Roads Rail Link Tel: 01495 355539 | Web: www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 5 1 EBBW VALE 2 THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR WORKS Description: Description: The site is located on a major route into Ebbw Vale Town Centre The Works is a regeneration project to redevelop the former from the A465 and benefits from excellent rail connection, bus Ebbw Vale steelworks site. The site has been transformed by and road links. There are three sites at this location which the a number of buildings and squares which provide schools, a separate landowners are promoting. college, hospital, sports centre and offices. There are a number of residential areas and mixed-use sites where housing is to be Type of Housing: Mix of medium to high density part of the mix. The site has excellent links to the town centre and the site has its own rail terminus. Indicative Capacity: 805 dwellings Type of Housing: Mix of high to low density with 1-5 storeys. Size of Site: 13.9ha Indicative Capacity: 320 dwellings Delivery Considerations: Road and sewerage improvements have been made to Size of Site: 78 ha accommodate the level of development anticipated. Two of the sites have been cleared (1 and 2) and are ready for Delivery Considerations: development. One is in private ownership (1) and has the All sites are in single ownership and are ready to be developed. benefit of outline planning consent subject to the signing of a One of the sites is to be brought forward to the market S106.