Powys LDP 2011-2026: Deposit Draft with Focussed Changes and Further Focussed Changes plus Matters Arising Changes September 2017 2 Powys Local Development Plan 2011 – 2026 1/4/2011 to 31/3/2026 Written Statement Adopted April 2018 (Proposals & Inset Maps published separately) Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 This page left intentionally blank Cyngor Sir Powys County Council Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 Foreword I am pleased to introduce the Powys County Council Local Development Plan as adopted by the Council on 17th April 2017. I am sincerely grateful to the efforts of everyone who has helped contribute to the making of this Plan which is so important for the future of Powys. Importantly, the Plan sets out a clear and strong strategy for meeting the future needs of the county’s communities over the next decade. By focussing development on our market towns and largest villages, it provides the direction and certainty to support investment and enable economic opportunities to be seized, to grow and support viable service centres and for housing development to accommodate our growing and changing household needs. At the same time the Plan provides the protection for our outstanding and important natural, built and cultural environments that make Powys such an attractive and special place in which to live, work, visit and enjoy. Our efforts along with all our partners must now shift to delivering the Plan for the benefit of our communities. Councillor Martin Weale Portfolio Holder for Economy and Planning Cyngor Sir Powys County Council Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 Contents Contents 1 Executive Summary 4 1.0 Introduction 5 1.9 Structure and Format of the LDP 7 1.10 Evolution of the LDP 7 2.0 The LDP’s Context 8 2.2 Powys’s Characteristics 8 2.3 Policy Context 12 2.4 Key Issues and Considerations for the LDP 18 3.0 The LDP Strategy 23 3.1 The LDP’s Vision and Objectives 23 3.2 The LDP Strategy 27 (a) Growth Strategy – How much development is planned? 29 (b) Spatial Strategy – Where is development planned? 29 3.3 The Strategic Policies 33 Strategic Policy SP1 – Housing Growth 33 Strategic Policy SP2 – Employment Growth 36 Strategic Policy SP3 – Affordable Housing Target 37 Strategic Policy SP4 – Retail Growth 38 Strategic Policy SP5 – Settlement Hierarchy 39 Strategic Policy SP6 – Distribution of Growth across the Settlement 41 Hierarchy Strategic Policy SP7 – Safeguarding of Strategic Resources and Assets 44 4.0 Policies for Making Planning Decisions 47 4.2 Development Management Policies 48 Policy DM1 – Planning Obligations 48 Policy DM2 – The Natural Environment 49 Policy DM3 – Public Open Space 53 Policy DM4 – Landscape 55 Policy DM5 – Development and Flood Risk 57 Policy DM6 – Flood Prevention Measures and Land Drainage 58 Policy DM7 – Dark Skies and External Lighting 59 Policy DM8 – Minerals Safeguarding 60 Policy DM9 – Existing Mineral Workings 61 Policy DM10 – Contaminated and Unstable Land 62 Policy DM11 – Protection of Existing Community Facilities and Services 62 Policy DM12 – Development in Welsh Speaking Strongholds 63 Policy DM13 – Design and Resources 65 Policy DM14 – Air Quality Management 72 Policy DM15 – Waste Within Developments 73 Policy DM16 – Protection of Existing Employment Sites 73 Cyngor Sir Powys County Council 1 Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 4.3 Topic Based Policies 74 4.4 Economic Development 74 Policy E1 – Employment Proposals on Allocated Employment Sites 74 Policy E2 – Employment Proposals on Non-allocated Employment Sites 76 Policy E3 – Employment Proposals on Allocated Mixed Use 76 Employment Sites Policy E4 – Safeguarded Employment Sites 77 Policy E5 – Bronllys Health Park 78 Policy E6 – Farm Diversification 79 Policy E7 – Home Working 80 4.5 Transport Policy T1 – Travel, Traffic and Transport Infrastructure 81 Policy T2 – Safeguarding of Disused Transport Infrastructure 82 Policy T3 – Newtown By-pass 82 4.6 Housing 82 Policy H1 – Housing Development Proposals 82 Policy H2 – Housing Sites 84 Policy H3 – Housing Delivery 89 Policy H4 – Housing Density 90 Policy H5 – Affordable Housing Contributions 90 Policy H6 – Affordable Housing Exception Sites 92 Policy H7 – Householder Development 93 Policy H8 – Renovation of Abandoned Dwellings 93 Policy H9 - Replacement Dwellings 94 Policy H10 – Gypsy and Traveller Sites and Caravans 94 Policy H11 - Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision 95 4.7 Planning For Retailing and Town Centres 95 Policy R1 – New Retail Development 96 Policy R2 – Retail Allocations 97 Policy R3 – Development Within Town Centre Areas 98 Policy R4 – Neighbourhood and Village Shops and Services 99 4.8 Planning for Tourism 100 Policy TD1 – Tourism Development 100 Policy TD2 – Alternative Uses of existing Tourism Development 101 Policy TD3 – Montgomery Canal and Associated Development 102 4.9 Waste 103 Policy W1 – Location of Waste Development 103 Policy W2 – Waste Management Proposals 105 4.10 Sustainable Energy 107 Policy RE1 – Renewable Energy 107 Cyngor Sir Powys County Council 2 Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 4.11 Minerals 111 Policy M1 – Existing Minerals Sites 111 Policy M2 – New Minerals Sites 113 Policy M3 – Borrow Pits 113 Policy M4 – Minerals Proposals 113 Policy M5 – Restoration and Aftercare 114 4.12 Community and Indoor Recreation Facilities 115 Policy C1 – Community Facilities and Indoor Recreation Facilities 115 4.13 Military Operations 116 Policy MD1 – Development proposals by the MOD 116 5.0 The LDP’s Monitoring Framework 117 Appendices 1 LDP Housing and Employment Sites 141 2 Supplementary Planning Guidance and Development Briefs 192 3 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) 193 4 Affordable Housing Sub-market Areas 196 5 Glossary 199 6 Historic Environment Information 207 7 Maps of Primary and Secondary Frontages within Town Centres 216 Figures 1 Boundary Map of Powys and adjoining Counties and National Parks 8 2 Map Showing the Topography of Powys 9 3 Wales Spatial Plan 2008 – Central Wales 13 4 Key Diagram 28 Tables 1 The Priorities of the One Powys Plan 2014 – 2017 16 H1 Calculating the Housing Requirement 33 H2 LDP Housing Provision 35 DM1 How to Use the Policies 47 RE1 Local Search Areas (Solar) 108 RE2 Summary of Renewable Electricity Contribution 109 RE3 Summary of Renewable Thermal Contribution 110 M1 Minerals Operations in Powys 112 2 Summary of Monitoring Assessment and Actions 119 3 Annual Monitoring Framework 120 4 List of Community Council Areas by Sub-market Area 197 Cyngor Sir Powys County Council 3 Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 Executive Summary The Powys Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out the Council’s policies for the development and use of land in Powys, and for reconciling uses, up to 2026. It is applicable to all of Powys except the Brecon Beacons National Park. It identifies a vision and objectives based on an understanding of the characteristics, issues and needs of the county and its communities. The LDP has been informed by evidence gathering, and its policies and proposals have been tested and informed by various assessment processes including a Sustainability Appraisal, a Habitats Regulation Assessment and a Strategic Environmental Assessment. Key to the LDP’s preparation has been the involvement and support received from a wide range of stakeholders. Based on evidence of future need identified, the LDP provides, over its 15 year plan period 2011-2026, sufficient land through its policies and proposals to meet the dwelling requirement of 4,500 dwellings, including 952 affordable homes. It also provides 45 hectares of employment land and includes policies to meet the needs of the economy. The plan distributes this development according to a hierarchy of settlements, with sites allocated for dwellings and employment in towns and larger villages which act as service centres for their wider communities. Outside of these larger settlements, in the smaller settlements and the open countryside of Powys, policies enable smaller scales of development to meet local needs, particularly affordable housing, and to support the rural economy. Powys’ natural and historic environment has determined its character and distinctiveness and the LDP supports the protection of these interests. Cyngor Sir Powys County Council 4 Adopted Powys Local Development Plan 2011-2026 1.0 Introduction 1.1 This Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out the Council’s vision, objectives, policies and proposals for the sustainable development and use of land in Powys for the 15 year period 2011-2026. It covers all of Powys except those parts of Powys covered by the Brecon Beacons National Park which are covered by the adopted Brecon Beacons National Park Authority LDP, Dec. 2013. 1.2 The Powys LDP is important because it sets out the guiding principles for development and land use over the plan period. It replaces the adopted Powys Unitary Development Plan (UDP), 2010 and becomes the basis for making decisions on planning applications. 1.3 The LDP has been prepared in stages in accordance with all relevant legislation, regulations and guidance. Its vision, objectives, policies and proposals, are based on the key issues and considerations identified from the evidence base.1 1.4 Preparation of the plan has also been informed by a Viability Assessment (VA), an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) and the following statutory assessments: Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)* – This found that the implementation of the LDP would not have a likely significant effect on the European sites (Natura 2000 and Ramsar) and therefore does not require Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Regulations. *It is important to note that in line with the Habitats Regulations Screening Assessment, project level assessments must be undertaken where there is a potential for significant effects on European sites. Where this relates to a land allocation this is highlighted in the LDP Housing and Employment Sites table (Appendix 1 of the LDP). In other instances it is necessary to consult the HRA screening report and list of European sites in the HRA Appendix (Appendix 3) to this plan.