Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area Masterplan Approved November 2020 Index Section 1: Appendix 1: Introduction A Foundation for Success - Objectives Section 2: Appendix 2: The Study Area Well-being of Future Generations Section 3: The Context Appendix 3: Assessment of Site Specific Proposals Section 4: against well-being goals and the The Vision for the Heads of the CCBC Well-being objectives Valleys Regeneration Area Section 5: Appendix 4: The Development Strategy Sectoral Analysis Section 6: Appendix 5: The Masterplan Framework Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (2019) Section 7: Delivering and Implementing change 2 Section 1: Introduction This Masterplan sets out the future The City Deal Investment Fund will also taking advantage of improved connectivity development and regeneration opportunities facilitate the delivery of the South East and the role of the Valleys Regional Park. proposed for the Heads of the Valleys. It seeks Wales Metro, which will make substantial The role of this Masterplan is therefore to facilitate significant change in order to improvements to connectivity by public to provide a comprehensive framework enhance the role of communities, enabling transport across the region. This investment for the future of the Heads of the Valleys them to diversify, allowing industries to rise will improve frequency of services to Regeneration Area. This Masterplan is flexible Rhymney Station from Cardiff, improving and demographics to alter for the better. and has the ability to adapt to changing north–south connectivity and the Masterplan economic and market conditions and meet There is an exciting opportunity to facilitate sets out how this opportunity can be the requirements and aspirations of both the significant change through the Cardiff Capital maximised. Region City Deal (CCRCD), which will provide private and public sector over this period The Valleys Taskforce also sets out an resources to unlock significant economic through regular review. It is recognised that ambitious programme for change, identifying growth in the region, delivering jobs and there are some projects that can be delivered actions and programmes designed to make within the short to medium term. However, in private sector investment. Whilst CCRCD seeks a positive change to the South Wales Valleys order to deliver long term regeneration goals, to relieve pressure on Cardiff as its regional through the ‘Our Valleys Our Future’ Delivery there is an aspiration to redevelop a number city it also seeks to promote growth in smaller Plan. Whilst the Delivery Plan sets out a of key sites within the Masterplan area. towns and industrial communities in order number of actions, most pertinent to this to rebalance social justice and prosperity. Masterplan is the focus on making more land The Masterplan has been prepared within This Masterplan seeks to provide a direction available in order to maximise economic the context of the adopted Caerphilly of travel to ensure a transition towards development opportunities, harnessing the County Borough Local Development Plan economic and social success. potential of the local foundational economy, (LDP), which sets out the Council’s land use 3 objectives for the County Borough, but it also l Supporting Business sets out longer term goals to ensure that the l Connecting People and Places momentum of change also extends well into l Supporting People; and the next decade. l Supporting Quality of Life. Many of the projects identified in the Masterplan are aligned to proposals The Heads of the Valleys Masterplan is the contained within the adopted LDP. This plan third area-specific strategy, in a series of five, will need to be reviewed to provide the which will identify projects that will help policy framework to control development in address key issues and objectives set out future years. Furthermore, relevant proposals within the wider Regeneration Strategy. It may also be included within a Strategic forms part of the implementation plan for ‘A Development Plan for the Cardiff Capital Foundation for Success’ and the Economic Region. The Masterplan will therefore need to Development Strategy ‘Delivering Prosperity’ be reviewed to take into account the relevant which will be reviewed every 5 years. The policies and proposals contained within the Masterplan identifies investment and different tiers of development plans as they development opportunities within the Heads emerge. of the Valleys Area. The Masterplan has been prepared in the In order to capture regeneration opportunities context of the overarching regeneration throughout the County Borough, two further strategy for the County Borough, “A Masterplans will be produced for Greater Foundation for Success” as well as the Blackwood and the Newbridge to Risca economic development strategy “Delivering Corridor. Prosperity.“A Foundation for Success” sets out four key themes that need to be addressed: 4 Study Area Section 2: KEY To Ebbw Vale Railway Station & Midlands The Study Area Railway Line Cycle Routes The Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area A465 is located in the northern part of Caerphilly A465 A469 County Borough, and comprises the Darren, Rhymney Settlements Upper Rhymney and Upper Sirhowy Valleys, A469 including the Principal Town of Bargoed and To Merthyr the Local Centre of Rhymney. It incorporates & West Pontlottyn the wards of Twyn Carno, Moriah, Pontlottyn, Wales Darren Valley, New Tredegar, Aberbargoed, Fochriw Bargoed, Gilfach and Argoed. This area suffers from significant challenges, New A469 Tredegar as underlined by the Welsh Index of Multiple Argoed winding house Deprivation ( WIMD) 2019. Of the 20 lower super output areas (LSOAs) that constitute Deri the nine wards, six of them are within the 10% most deprived in Wales in overall terms, with Aberbargoed a further five in the 10 - 20% most deprived Bargoed category. In addition, all nine wards are above average in terms of economic inactivity and Gilfach unemployment, and the proportion of lower- skilled, lower-paying jobs is higher in the To Caerphillly, M4 & Cardiff 5 Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area than centre and home to Welsh Government for the England and Wales average. Relevant offices and major tourism attractions such data is presented as an appendix to this as Bike Park Wales. Immediately to the east document. is Blaenau Gwent, home to the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone (EZ) which is utilising publicly The Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area available finance to develop its automotive lies on the A465 at its northernmost point. sector through the Tech Valleys initiative. This is a key transport artery for the South Wales economy, connecting the M4 at Neath Whilst the study area of the Masterplan to Abergavenny and Hereford, and providing only relates to that part of the Heads of the links between West Wales and the Midlands. Valleys within Caerphilly County Borough’s It is the only strategic east-west link that administrative boundary, it has regard connects the Valleys communities providing to the wider A465 corridor and identifies access to employment, retail, leisure and other development and investment opportunities facilities. Significant levels of public funding that will strengthen the Borough’s position has been already been spent on improving the within this context. A465 and further investment is being provided to complete the dualling of the route. This Masterplan seeks to put into context the role that the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area plays within the wider A465 corridor and looks to complement, exploit and strengthen the opportunities that exist. To the west is Merthyr, a sub-regional centre, major retail destination and service 6 Section 3: The Context In providing the context to the Masterplan l A number of Welsh medium schools are l New house building is ongoing helping to it is important to understand the strengths, located in the area, helping to promote diversify the housing stock in this area, e.g. weaknesses, opportunities and threats that and grow the Welsh language; the former Bedwellty School Site; currently exist within the Heads of the Valleys. l The Integrated Health and Social Care l Significant investment has been targeted Strengths Resource Centre for the north is located at the council house stock throughout the l Excellent connectivity by road via the in Rhymney together with Hafod Deg area, improving the condition and quality A465 Heads of the Valleys Road to the Resource Centre, both of which provide of the stock and its energy efficiency; West Midlands, West Wales and Ireland; vital cross cutting services to residents in l The Cadw-designated Historic Landscape l Located within a dramatic natural and the area; of Gelligaer and Merthyr Common is semi natural environment; l The existence of key community hubs located within the area, providing a l Improved public transport infrastructure in e.g. local libraries, community centres, GP significant cultural and historical resource recent years including the provision of the surgeries; for the County Borough; new park & ride facilities and a new bus/ l The area contains two country parks l A number of heritage sites are based in the rail interchange at Bargoed, Rhymney park area e.g. Butetown and the Elliott Colliery and ride and frequency enhancements; within its boundary: Parc Coetir Bargod and Parc Cwm Darran; with Parc Bryn Bach Winding House; l Significant life-science companies are straddling the boundary with Blaenau l The Greater Bargoed Regeneration located in the