G White, Head of Planning, The Quays, Brunel Way, Baglan Energy Park, Neath, SA11 2GG. Foreword The Unitary Development Plan has been adopted following a lengthy and com- plex preparation. Its primary aims are delivering Sustainable Development and a better quality of life. Through its strategy and policies it will guide planning decisions across the County Borough area. Councillor David Lewis Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Unitary Development Plan. CONTENTS Page 1 PART 1 INTRODUCTION Introduction 1 Supporting Information 2 Supplementary Planning Guidance 2 Format of the Plan 3 The Community Plan and related Plans and Strategies 3 Description of the County Borough Area 5 Sustainability 6 The Regional and National Planning Context 8 2 THE VISION The Vision for Neath Port Talbot 11 The Vision for Individual Localities and Communities within 12 Neath Port Talbot Cwmgors 12 Ystalyfera 13 Pontardawe 13 Dulais Valley 14 Neath Valley 14 Neath 15 Upper Afan Valley 15 Lower Afan Valley 16 Port Talbot 16 3 THE STRATEGY Introduction 18 Settlement Strategy 18 Transport Strategy 19 Coastal Strategy 21 Rural Development Strategy 21 Welsh Language Strategy 21 Environment Strategy 21 4 OBJECTIVES The Objectives in terms of the individual Topic Chapters 23 Environment 23 Housing 24 Employment 25 Community and Social Impacts 26 Town Centres, Retail and Leisure 27 Transport 28 Recreation and Open Space 29 Infrastructure and Energy 29 Minerals 30 Waste 30 Resources 31 5 PART 1 POLICIES NUMBERS 1-29 32 6 SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL Sustainability Appraisal Findings Summary 38 PART 2 7 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS Policy GC1 New Buildings/ Structures and Changes of Use 40 Policy GC2 Engineering Works and Operations (Including Minerals and waste) 44 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 46 8 ENVIRONMENT Current Position 47 Current Trends and Issues 49 Strategy 51 Justification of Part 1 Policies 53 Policy ENV1 Development in the Countryside 54 Policy ENV2 Green Wedges 55 Policy ENV3 Impacts on the Landscape 56 Policy ENV4 Proposals affecting International and National Sites For Nature Conservation and Species Protected By European or UK Legislation 58 Policy ENV5 Nature Conservation 60 Policy ENV6 Agricultural Land 62 Policy ENV7 New Dwellings for Agricultural and Forestry Purposes 62 Policy ENV8A Replacement Dwellings in the Countryside 63 Policy ENV8B Conversion or Re-use of Buildings in the Countryside 64 Policy ENV8C Farm Diversification 64 Policy ENV9 Horse Related Proposals 66 Policy ENV10 Coastal Protection 66 Policy ENV11 Proposals in Areas of Flood Risk 67 Policy ENV12 Proposals Affecting Water Resources 69 Policy ENV13 Brownfield, Derelict and Waste Land 69 Policy ENV14 Unstable Land 70 Policy ENV15 Air Quality 70 Policy ENV16 Contaminated Land 72 Policy ENV17 Design 73 Policy ENV18 Listed Buildings 74 Policy ENV19 Proposals within Conservation Areas or which would affect the setting of a Listed Building 75 Policy ENV20 Demolition of Unlisted Buildings within Conservation Areas 76 Policy ENV21 The Designation of New and Review of Existing Conservation Areas 77 Policy ENV22 Archaeological Remains 78 Policy ENV23 Archaeological Evaluation 78 Policy ENV24 Archaeological Recording 78 Policy ENV25 Advertisements 79 Policy ENV26 External Lighting 81 Policy ENV27 Location of Sensitive Uses 82 Policy ENV28 Polluting or Hazardous Installations 82 Policy ENV29 Environmental Quality and Amenity 82 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 83 9 HOUSING Current Position 85 Current Trends and Issues 86 Strategy 89 Justification of Part 1 Policies 91 Policy H1 Housing Landbank 93 Policy H2 Housing Density 96 Policy H3 Infill and Windfall Development within Settlements 97 Policy H4 Affordable Housing 99 Policy H5 Affordable Housing in Villages to Serve Local Need 99 Policy H6 Conversions to and Subdivision of Dwellings and Other Premises 100 Policy H7 Gypsy Caravan Sites 101 Policy H8 ‘Lifetime Homes’ Standards 102 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 102 10 ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT Current Position 104 Current Trends and Issues 105 Strategy 108 Justification of Part 1 Policies 110 Policy EC1 Employment Landbank 111 Policy EC2 Extensions to Industrial / Business Premises 114 Policy EC3 Creation or Expansion of Businesses within Settlement Limits 115 Policy EC4 Financial and Professional Uses 115 Policy EC5 Employment within the Countryside 116 Policy EC6 Working from Home 117 Policy EC7 Criteria for Consideration of Proposals for Tourism Facilities and Attractions 117 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 118 11 COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Current Position 120 Current Trends and Issues 122 Strategy 124 Justification of Part 1 Policies 125 Policy CS1 Community Facilities and Services 125 Policy CS2 Welsh Language 125 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 126 12 TRANSPORT Current Position 128 Current Trends and Issues 130 Strategy 131 Justification of Part 1 Policies 132 Policy T1 Location, Layout and Accessibility of New Proposals 133 Policy T2 Bus and Rail Infrastructure and Facilities 135 Policy T3 Public Transport Quality Corridors 136 Policy T4 Redundant Rail Routes 136 Policy T5 Use of Premises for Control of Taxis & Minibuses 136 Policy T6 Ports and Harbours 137 Policy T7 Rail Freight 138 Policy T8 Road Schemes 138 Policy T9 Road Hierarchy 139 Policy T10 Parking in Town, District, Local and Village Centres 141 Policy T11 Traffic Management 141 Policy T12 Footpaths, Cycleways and Bridleways 142 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 143 13 TOWN CENTRES, RETAIL AND LEISURE Current Position 145 Current Trends and Issues 146 Strategy 147 Justification of Part 1 Policies 148 Policy TRL1 Proposals in Town Centres 150 Policy TRL2 Proposals within Main Shopping Streets 150 Policy TRL3 Non-Retail Uses Within Shopping Centres 152 Policy TRL4 Out Of Centre Proposals 153 Policy TRL5 Proposals Within Other Centres 155 Policy TRL6 Local Retail Units 156 Policy TRL7 Farm, Craft and Factory Shops 157 Policy TRL8 Shop Front Design 157 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 158 14 RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE Current Position 160 Current Trends and Issues 161 Strategy 162 Justification of Part 1 Policies 163 Policy RO1 Protection of Recreation, Sports Facilities and Open Spaces 164 Policy RO2 New Sport and Recreational Facilities 166 Policy RO3 Provision of Open Space to serve New Residential Developments 168 Policy RO4 Access to the Countryside and Coast 171 Policy RO5 Water Based Recreation 171 Policy RO6 Canals 172 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 173 15 INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY Current Position 175 Current Trends and Issues 177 Strategy 178 Justification of Part 1 Policies 179 Policy IE1 Existing and Programmed Infrastructure 179 Policy IE2 Infrastructure Facilities (Not Including Drainage) 179 Policy IE3 Main Sewage Treatment 180 Policy IE4 Private Sewage Treatment Facilities 181 Policy IE5 Telecommunications Development 181 Policy IE6 Renewable Energy 182 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 183 16 MINERALS Current Position and Trends 185 Strategy 189 Justification of Part 1 Policies 191 Policy M1 Mineral Prospecting and Exploration 192 Policy M2 Preference for Secondary Aggregates 193 Policy M3 Development of Non-Energy Minerals 193 Policy M4 Aggregate and Dimension Stone Extraction 193 Policy M5 Protection of Sand and Gravel Reserves 194 Policy M6 Buffer Zones to Quarries 194 Policy M7 Borrow Pits 195 Policy M8 Criteria for the Assessment of Coal and all Minerals Applications including Oil and Gas 195 Policy M9 Opencast Coal 196 Policy M10 Planning Permission and Aftercare Requirements 199 Policy M11 Review of Operations 199 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 200 17 WASTE Current Position 201 Current Trends and Issues 205 Strategy 207 Justification of Part 1 Policies 208 Policy W1 Proposals for the Collection, Treatment, Transfer and Disposal of Waste 209 Policy W2 Provision of Landfill and Recycling and Treatment Facilities 211 Policy W3 Criteria for the Assessment of the Deposition of Inert Waste Material on Agricultural Land for Land Improvement or other Agricultural Engineering operations 213 Policy W4 Proposals for the Minimisation, Recovery and Recycling of Waste 214 Policy W5 Contingency Landfill Site at Giant’s Grave 216 Policy W6 Recycling of Industrial Waste 216 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 217 18 LLANDARCY URBAN VILLAGE Current Position and Strategy 218 Justification of Part 1 Policies 220 Policy LL1 Llandarcy Urban Village 221 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 222 19 PORT TALBOT DOCKS AND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Current Position 224 Current Trends and Issues 224 Strategy 225 Justification of Part 1 Policies 225 Policy PT1 Regeneration Initiative 225 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 226 20 BAGLAN BAY Current Position 228 Current Trends and Issues 228 Strategy 229 Justification of Part 1 Policies 229 Policy BB1 Regeneration Initiative 229 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 230 APPENDICIES Appendix 1: Supporting Information 231 Appendix 2: Existing and proposed Supplementary Planning Guidance 233 Appendix 3: Related Strategies, Plans and Guidance 234 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 requires local authorities to prepare Unitary Development Plans (UDP) for their areas. The plan is prepared under The 1990 Town and Country Planning Act (as amended), and The Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991 and Development Plan (Amendment) Regulations 1997. Government advice on the preparation of the plan and its policy content is provided in: Unitary Development Plans Wales 2001; Unitary Development Plans A Guide to Procedures 2001; Planning