FRINGE APPLICATIONS DELEGATED TO THE NATIONAL PARK OFFICERS

App No. Grid Ref. Address Date Issued

21/19960/FRI N: 212756 Industrial 3 June 2021 E: 315884 Estate, Rassau, Ebbw Vale

Proposal: EIA Scoping for the construction and operation of a Glass Bottle Manufacturing Facility at Rassau Ind Est, . Agrees with these scoping conclusions that the Environmental Statement will need to detail: • The impact of emissions on ecological receptors in the National Park. • The visual impact of the development from receptors in the National Park.

Notes that discharge of vapor from the chimneys has been scoped out of the visual appraisal because the specific weather conditions needed for the formation of a vapour plume will only occur for approximately 0.1% of the year (i.e. <10hrs per year).

Seeks minor amendments for clarity and accuracy: • The s7 status of Mynydd ’s extensive upland heath and bog priority habitats, reflected in Table 17, should also be noted in Table 39 (page 113). • Section 5.5.2 and Table 45 and 46 should be amended to clarify that observations provided at pre-application stage were made by a Senior Planning Officer (Policy), rather than the “Landscape Officer” of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Site location plan. Photograph of Rassau Industrial Estate from Mynydd Llangynidr (near to, but outside the National Park boundary). 26/05/20. 21/19900/FRI N: 203211 Fringe Comments Mynydd Carn Y 18 May 2021 E: 320400 Cefn Wind Farm, Land At Mynydd Carn Y Cefn, Abertillery

Proposal: EIA Scoping Direction: Mynydd Carn y Cefn Windfarm, Abertillery (8 turbines).

Requests the Screening Direction clarifies that only landscape effects on the Brecon Beacons National Park have been scoped out from further detailed assessment and that likely significant LVIA effects from the Brecon Beacons National Park are to be considered within the Environmental Statement.

Asks that consideration be given to requiring additional viewpoints in the Environmental Statement from: • The Blorenge: The trig point is a well visited important viewpoint in the National Park. • Mynydd Llangynidr: Open Access Land / Public Right of Way (The Chartist’s Cave, landscape and numerous Cairns attract walkers to explore this landscape). Although this area is not on the Beacons Way, it is closer than proposed viewpoint 16 and may still be considered as of recreational importance.

Issued on 15 June 2021 the Planning Inspectorate’s Development of National Significance (DNS): EIA Scoping Direction 3270299: Mynydd Carn Y Cefn Wind Farm states:

“The applicant’s attention is drawn to comments received from the BBNPA and NRW. BBNPA suggest additional viewpoints that should be included in the LVIA. The applicant should liaise with NRW and BBNPA to finalise the list of viewpoints within the National Park, giving consideration to the National Park’s status as an International Dark Sky Reserve. The likely LVIA effects from the Brecon Beacons National Park are scoped into the ES.”

Site Location Plan 21/19836/FRI N: 205023 Hirwaun Fringe Comments Land to the 14 May 2021 E: 298249 west of Llwydcoed and the east of Penywaun, linking the A465 at, Croesbychan with the A4059

Proposal: A4059 Cynon Gateway North Link Road located between the settlements of Llwydcoed to the east and Penywaun to the west. The scheme connects the existing A4059 Aberdare Bypass, east of Penywaun to the Croesbychan roundabout (part of a the A465 Heads of the Valley scheme).

Draws attention to Section 11A (2) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Notes the Environmental Statement (ES) reports: The visual impacts from viewpoint 11 Brecon Beacons PROW Nant Moal Reservoir (the only viewpoint from within the National Park included): • Construction phase: Magnitude: Negligible. Significance: Slight adverse. (ES Para.10.5.24); • Year 1: Magnitude: Negligible. Significance: Slight adverse. (ES Para.10.5.50); and, • Year 15: Magnitude: Negligible. Significance: Slight adverse. (ES Para.10.5.50).

During the operational phase “…there will be a slight effect on the setting of the National Park although the Heads of Valley Road is already a busy transport corridor in this location…” (ES Table 9.6).

“In Year 1 the new road will be screened by vegetation in the near and middle view along the line of the Heads of the Valley Road and the adjacent fields on the valley floor. There might be slight additional light pollution at night from vehicle headlights and lighting columns at the northern end of the Proposed Scheme although any impacts would be minor.” (paragraph 10.5.49 of the ES).

Significant landscape character effects on the Brecon Beacons character area, i.e. moderate adverse effects at year 1 & slight adverse effects at year 15 (ES paragraph 20.2.9.). However, once the proposed native woodland planting landscape mitigation has matured, significant residual adverse effects are not anticipated (ES paragraph 20.2.10.) with minor slight residual adverse effects being reported (ES Table 9.10).

Recalls Volume 1 of the Environmental Statement for the A465 works (A465 ES) which reported: • residual moderate indirect adverse landscape effects on the Mynydd y glog open plateau, from which glimpses of the A465 would form small elements within much wider views; • that the most significant adverse long-term visual effects from within the National Park as those experienced by residents within properties immediately adjacent to the proposed scheme, such as residents at Croesbychan; and, • slight adverse effects on night skies due to an incremental change to darkness / brightness as a result of combined glare, light spill / sky glow.

Asserts against a future baseline (i.e. post-construction of the A465 improvements) it is unlikely that the impact of the proposal would add significantly to the magnitude of the moderate indirect adverse landscape effects reported from Mynydd-y-Glog by the A465 ES.

Seeks appropriate conditions which secure the proposed native woodland planting (i.e. landscape mitigation) and measures to which minimise glare, light spill and sky glow (i.e. lantern design and lighting scheme). Site Location Plan

21/19702/FRI N: 205366 Fringe Comments Land To The 12 May 2021 E: 300792 West Of Bryn Pica Waste Disposal Site, Merthyr Road, Llwydcoed, Aberdare, CF44 0BX

Proposal: “reserved matters application seeks approval of all remaining reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance and landscaping) relating to planning application 18/0302/08”

Address: Land To The West Of Bryn Pica Waste Disposal Site, Merthyr Road, Llwydcoed Aberdare CF44 0BX

We have been provided with a copy of the agent’s emailed response (dated 9th April 2021) to the Brecon Beacons National Park’s consultation comments submitted to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council (see letter dated 31st March 2021).

We have now been provided with a copy of the Planning Statement, which was submitted as part of this reserved matters application, and a copy of the decision notice for 18/0302/08 - both of which were not available on-line at the time of previous comments.

We offer the following comments on the agent’s emailed response: 1. It is useful to receive the agent’s perspective that the “visual effect of the proposed development would not exceed that of the previously assessed outline scheme. This conclusion is based on the fact that the reserved matters scheme proposes a smaller scale of development than that illustrated and permitted by the outline - with less floorspace, fewer principal buildings, a different site layout, and the eaves and ridge height of the main industrial units the same as that assessed at the outline stage”. Whilst a drawing showing a comparison between the approved parameters and the current reserved would have assisted, we note further dialogue on this point and the associated landscape and visual impact is also included in the Planning Statement which has recently being provided to us. Provided the reserved matters being sought are below the parameters set by the outline (as stated) then we do not raise an objection to the scheme. 2. We have now been provided with a copy of decision notice 18/0302/08 and note there is a planning condition which requires prior approval of any external lighting. With this in mind it is noted that the determining Authority (Rhondda Cynon Taf Council) will have an opportunity then to consider the landscape and visual impact of the lighting. Site Location Plan

21/20084/FRI N: 203569 Fringe No Comments The Paddocks, 17 June 2021 E: 331617 Clwyd Y Clap Lane, Mamhilad, Pontypool, Mons, NP4 0JD

Consultation RE the Paddocks, Mamhilad for alterations and extension and addition of detached garage