Llynfi Valley VARP Baseline Report Report To Bridgend County Borough Council May 2010 Llynfi Valley VARP Baseline Report Report From Powell Dobson Urbanists Charterhouse Links Business Park St Mellons Cardiff CF3 0LT +44 (0)29 20 799 699 www.powelldobsonurbanists.com Final Report written by: J. Brown, J. Heal Quality Checked by: S. Sullivan January 2010 28.05.2010 1 Llynfi Valley VARP Baseline Report 28.05.2010 2 Llynfi Valley VARP Baseline Report Contents 1. Executive Summary............................................................................................................ 7 1.1. Health Indicators................................................................................................................ 8 1.2. Educational Attainment...................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Economic Context of the Llynfi Valley................................................................................. 8 1.4. Built Environment of the Llynfi Valley................................................................................. 9 1.5. Rural Environment in the Llynfi Valley................................................................................ 9 1.6. Movement and Transportation in the Llynfi Valley ............................................................. 9 1.7. Tourism............................................................................................................................ 10 1.8. Culture............................................................................................................................. 10 1.9. Energy & Sustainability..................................................................................................... 11 1.10. Community Life............................................................................................................ 11 1.11. Conclusion.................................................................................................................... 12 2. Background ............................................................................................................................. 13 2.1. The Brief .......................................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Purpose of Report ............................................................................................................ 13 2.3. Strategic Location............................................................................................................. 13 3. Regeneration Context.............................................................................................................. 15 3.1. Housing Renewal Programme .......................................................................................... 15 3.2. V2C Estate Renewal Plans ................................................................................................ 16 3.3. Enhanced Education Facilities .......................................................................................... 16 3.4. Caerau Community Development Trust (CCDT) ................................................................ 16 3.5. Maesteg Town Centre Enhancements .............................................................................. 17 3.6. Valley Community Routes ................................................................................................ 17 4. Policy Context.......................................................................................................................... 18 4.1. One Wales: One Planet .................................................................................................... 18 4.2. National Planning Policy Planning Policy Wales (2002) ..................................................... 18 4.3. Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statements................................................................. 19 4.4. Wales Spatial Plan (2008 Update)..................................................................................... 19 4.5. Unitary Development Plan ............................................................................................... 20 4.6. LDP Pre Deposit Proposals 2008 ....................................................................................... 20 4.7. Bridgend Community Strategy & Corporate Plan.............................................................. 23 28.05.2010 3 Llynfi Valley VARP Baseline Report 4.8. Bridgend Borough Tourism Strategy................................................................................. 24 5. Composition Llynfi Valley......................................................................................................... 25 5.1 Physical Landscape of the Llynfi Valley ............................................................................. 25 5.2 Settlements and Development Patterns of the Llynfi Valley.............................................. 27 6. Health...................................................................................................................................... 30 6.1. Health Indicators.............................................................................................................. 30 6.2. Infrastructure................................................................................................................... 31 6.3. Health Promotion Services............................................................................................... 33 6.4. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 33 7. Skills & Learning....................................................................................................................... 35 7.1. Existing Local Education Opportunities............................................................................. 35 7.2. Potential School Review................................................................................................... 37 7.3. School Performance......................................................................................................... 37 7.4. Educational Attainment.................................................................................................... 37 7.5. Construction Skills Centre................................................................................................. 38 7.6. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 39 8. Economic Context of the Llynfi Valley ...................................................................................... 41 8.1. Places for Business........................................................................................................... 41 8.2. Employment Land Supply and Demand ............................................................................ 43 8.3. Indicators of Unemployment and Economic Inactivity...................................................... 44 8.4. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 47 9. Built Environment of the Llynfi Valley ...................................................................................... 48 9.1. Housing Supply & Demand: Upper Llynfi Valley................................................................ 48 9.2. Housing Supply & Demand: Maesteg................................................................................ 50 9.3. Housing Supply: Lower Llynfi Valley.................................................................................. 52 9.4. Local Distinctiveness ........................................................................................................ 52 9.5. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 53 10. Rural Environment in the Llynfi Valley...................................................................................... 55 10.1. Landscape Character & Quality in the Upper Llynfi Valley............................................. 55 10.2. Landscape Character & Quality in Maesteg................................................................... 56 10.3. Landscape Character & Quality in the Lower Llynfi Valley............................................. 56 10.4. Conclusion.................................................................................................................... 56 11. Movement and Transportation in the Llynfi Valley................................................................... 58 11.1. Travel Indicators........................................................................................................... 58 28.05.2010 4 Llynfi Valley VARP Baseline Report 11.2. Cycling in the Llynfi Valley ............................................................................................ 61 11.3. Bus travel in the Llynfi Valley........................................................................................ 62 11.4. Rail travel in the Llynfi Valley........................................................................................ 62 11.5. Highway Accessibility in the Llynfi Valley ...................................................................... 63 11.6. Conclusion...................................................................................................................