Torfaen County Borough Council PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION Planning Statement NOVEMBER 2019 PUBLIC Torfaen County Borough Council PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION Planning Statement TYPE OF DOCUMENT (VERSION) PUBLIC PROJECT NO. 70034910 OUR REF. NO. 70034910-PPL-STA-PLA-01 DATE: NOVEMBER 2019 WSP 1 Capital Quarter Tyndall Street Cardiff CF10 4BZ Phone: +44 2920 769 200 WSP.com PUBLIC QUALITY CONTROL Issue/revision First issue Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Date Prepared by Ruth Jones Signature Checked by Jack Pugsley Signature Authorised by Chris Clarke Signature Project number Report number File reference PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 SITE CONTEXT 3 3 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 9 4 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 2 5 MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS 15 6 CONCLUSION 22 TABLES Table 2-1 – Pre-Application LPA Consultee Responses 4 Table 2-2 – Pre-Application Consultation Summary 6 Table 3-1 – Facilities available at Pontypool & New Inn Station 10 Table 3-2 – Pontypool and New Inn Timetable 10 Table 4-1 – Planning Policy Wales (Edition 10, December 2018) 2 Table 4-2 – Relevant LDP Policies 8 Table 4-3 – LDP Sustainability Objectives for the Site 10 Table 4-4 – SA Sustainability Objectives for the Site 10 FIGURES Figure 2-1 - Site Aerial 3 Figure 2-2 - Site Location Plan Extract 4 Figure 2-3 - Relevant Planning History 7 Figure 3-1 - Proposed General Arrangement Plan Extract 9 PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council Figure 3-2 – 3D Drawing of the Footbridge from the North-West 11 Figure 4-1 - Pontypool Integrated Network Map Extract 5 Figure 4-2 - Torfaen County Borough Council Proposals Map 6 Figure 4-3 - Torfaen County Borough Council Constraints Map 7 Figure 4-4 - Area covered by the South-East Wales Valley Local Transport Plan 12 Figure 4-5 - Relationship between Transport Strategies in Wales 13 Figure 5-1 - Invasive Species Location Plan Extract 16 Figure 5-2 – The Site 18 Figure 5-3 - Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Conservation Area 18 Figure 5-4 - Extract of Tree Protection Plan 19 Figure 5-5 - Historic Wales Map Extract 20 Figure 5-6 - NRW DAM Map Extract 21 APPENDICES EIA SCOPING DIRECTION TRAIN TIMES FOR SOUTH WALES, NORTH WALES & MANCHESTER PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 OVERVIEW 1.1.1. WSP (‘the Agent’) have been instructed by Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) Highways, Traffic and Engineering Team (‘the Applicant’) to prepare and submit a full planning application at Pontypool and New Inn Railway Station (‘the Site’) for: “Construction of a car park, access roads from the A4042 and a new passenger footbridge (including an accessible lift)” 1.2 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 1.2.1. The Planning Statement should be read in conjunction with the following documents which accompany the planning application: Planning Application Forms; Covering Letter; Plans and Drawings Preliminary Ecological Appraisal; Badger Survey Report; Landscape and Visual Appraisal; Pre-Application Consultation Report; Design and Access Statement; Transport Assessment; and Tree Survey. 1.3 BACKGROUND TO THE DEVELOPMENT 1.3.1. The Proposed Development, improvements to the existing station including parking and access from the A4042, links into the South-East Wales Transport Alliance rail strategy objective to increase service and stopping frequencies along the Hereford to Newport line, including the provision of ‘local’ stopping services, together with significant improvements to station facilities, interchange and parking at this and adjacent stations. 1.3.2. The Proposed Development has the potential to harness rail passenger growth to and from Cardiff and Newport, which will have a positive impact on the Cardiff Capital Region to enhance prosperity and wellbeing for all through economic growth. It has also been recognised as part of the South- East Wales Metro, which the City Deal Investment Fund is supporting. 1.3.3. The provision of good interchange facilities, convenient access and additional park and ride (P&R) capacity, would also support a wider package of measures. Strategic P&R facilities with good access from the Trunk Road Network could be a potential means of substituting longer distance car trips to Newport, Cardiff and Bristol with a rail element, thereby relieving pressure on the M4 corridor and the A4042. 1.3.4. The aim of the Proposed Development is to improve the basic facilities and services at the station, which has led to low usage of the railway and limited investment, by providing a step change in interchange provision so that the station acts as a key hub for regional travel for the area. PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council Page 1 of 23 1.4 FORMAT OF THE DOCUMENT 1.4.1. The Planning Statement is submitted as part of the planning application and is structured as follows: Section 2 (Site Context) – describes the location of the Proposed Development and any relevant planning applications in the area surrounding the Site. Section 3 (The Proposed Development) – sets out the details of the Proposed Development including the proposed layout. Section 4 (Planning Policy Context) – sets out the national and local planning policies relevant to the Proposed Development. Section 5 (Material Considerations) – sets out the need for the Proposed Development, environmental considerations, and the planning balance for the Proposed Development. Section 6 (Conclusion) – summarises the need for the Proposed Development and how it accords with the planning policy framework. PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council Page 2 of 23 2 SITE CONTEXT 2.1 THE SITE 2.1.1. As shown on the Site Aerial and Site Location Plan (Figure 2-1 below and Figure 2-2 overleaf), the Proposed Development will be located on the northern side of the existing Pontypool & New Inn Station (PNI). The Site is located approximately 1.8km east of Pontypool town centre, and lies between the town of Pontypool and the village of New Inn, which is to the south-east. Figure 2-1 - Site Aerial 2.1.2. The Site is located adjacent to the A4042 Trunk Road, which leads from Abergavenny approximately 12.5km to the north, southwards to Newport and the M4 motorway approximately 10.4km south. PNI is currently accessed from The Highway, which passes over the A4042 and links Pontypool and New Inn. Car parking and access to the island platform is currently from the south of PNI. 2.1.3. The Site lies on the north-western edge of New Inn, with the area extending to the north east comprising of predominantly rural and agricultural land. Coed y Canddo is a 6.5ha Ancient Woodland situated approximately 150m south east of the Site, with Panteg Cemetery located to the north-west on the opposite side of the A4042. 2.2 PRE-APPLICATION DIALOGUE Local communities and stakeholders can contribute to the development of transport places and instil local distinctiveness. The delivery of transport places and projects can deliver social capital through community development, learning and training and also community-owned development. Engagement must identify opportunities for these outcomes. PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council Page 3 of 23 Figure 2-2 - Site Location Plan Extract 2.2.1. The following sub-section, as well as the Pre-Application Consultation Report submitted as part of this application, outlines the pre-application dialogue undertaken with the Local Planning Authority, local community and other interested stakeholders. PRE-APPLICATION ENQUIRY 2.2.2. A pre-application enquiry was submitted to TCBC on 6th June 2019, with an accompanying statement which provided further information on the proposals as well as relevant planning and environmental considerations. 2.2.3. A formal pre-application meeting took place with TCBC Planning Officers on 11th July 2019 to discuss the proposals and the information provided. 2.2.4. A summary of the pre-application consultee responses received by the TCBC Planning Officers is provided below. To date, no formal pre-application response has been received from the Planning Department. Table 2-1 – Pre-Application LPA Consultee Responses Discipline Response / Outcome Drainage Confirmation that SAB approval will be required in respect of the Proposed Development Highways As the A4042 is a Trunk Road, it is for the Welsh Government to make comment (see section below). A Transport Assessment will be required for submission alongside the planning application. Ecology Highlighted that the further studies and surveys required following the Phase 1 Habitat survey need to be reported on within the planning application. PONTYPOOL & NEW INN STATION PUBLIC | WSP Project No.: 70034910 November 2019 Torfaen County Borough Council Page 4 of 23 Discipline Response / Outcome Any licence from NRW for closing the badger sett onsite cannot be applied for until planning consent is in place. Consideration needs to be had in relation to the timing and the programming for the works, factoring in the seasonal requirements for the licence. Public Health Recommended that a Construction/Demolition Management Plan is submitted to, and agreed by the LPA, prior to the commencement of works. The response provided information on the detail to be included within the Plan. 2.2.5. Following the pre-application meeting with the Planning Department, the agent contacted the Welsh Government’s Transport Directorate to obtain their views on the proposed development as the Proposed Development will likely result in a material increase in the volume or a material change in the character of traffic entering or leaving the adjacent trunk road. The Transport Directorate is responsible for the maintenance of the trunk road and were also consulted during the PAC process.