Caerphilly County Borough Council has agreed its deposit replacement Local Development Plan – but in plain English, what does this mean?
At a council meeting held on February 3, councillors agreed the first version of a planning blueprint – much to the anger of residents and campaigners – that could see thousands of new homes built on green space in Caerphilly County Borough.
A Local Development Plan, or LDP, is effectively a guide used by planners, councillors and developers which maps out how an area is likely to develop. In this instance, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s LDP sets out the direction of development until 2031.
APPEAL
At the moment, our council does not have an up-to-date LDP, meaning any planning application submitted by developers and turned down by councillors could end up in appeal – with a real risk that developments could be built in areas that the council, and residents, do not want.
It was against this background that Labour councillors found themselves in a position where they felt they had to approve the draft LDP. The argument being it’s better to allow building on some green land rather than all of it.
Plaid Cymru councillors voted against the plan at the meeting and they were joined by Cllr Hefin David – the only Labour councillor in attendance who voted against the plan. The LDP draft was passed 36 votes to 17.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is under pressure from the Welsh Government regulations that stipulate local authorities have to have a clear housing supply plan for the next five years. Currently, Caerphilly has a projected supply for just under two years.
As a result, thousands of new homes have been earmarked in the LDP.
These include 1,800 at Gwernau Ganol and Gwerna Fawr Farm in Maesycwmmer, 500 in Caerphilly town on the site of the former Ness Tar Plant and the surrounding land of Nant y Calch Farm, 600 at Gwern y Domen Farm in Rudry, 600 in Nelson, 545 at the former works site in Waterloo and 630 on the site of Bedwas Colliery.
Also proving controversial is a proposal to build a new road bypass leading from Van Road, Caerphilly, to the A469 Caerphilly Mountain Road and another bypass in Maesycwmmer to relieve pressure on the A472.
Residents are weary of new homes being built because of the increase in traffic and the extra pressure it will put on existing and new roads.
Cllr Colin Elsbury, who represents the St Martin’s ward in Caerphilly town for Plaid Cymru, joined campaigners recently at a protest held outside Caerphilly Castle.
He said: “It is choc-a-bloc at the best of times, and it’s going to be chaos. We will just be moving traffic jams around Caerphilly and not improving the situation at all.”
What has upset residents the most is the potential loss of green spaces.
Professor Stephen Dunnett, Chairman of Gwern y Domen Conservation Group, said: “The loss of these greenfield sites will be a loss of biodiversity and the rare species which depend on this land for their foraging, breeding and general habitat.
“Once we have lost this habitat it will be lost forever and at a time when other organisations are doing their utmost to preserve endangered species.”
Dr Sarah-Jane Richards, is also part of the conservation group, and added: “The area incorporates sites which have been designated ‘green wedge’ and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) for good reason. Importantly, it provides the local community with green spaces for relaxation, exercise, recreation and sport – all of which are essential to mental good health as well as the physical health and wellbeing of a community.”
None of the developments in the LDP are guaranteed to be built however. Each project will need its own planning permissions and its own developer to stump up the cash for building work.
CONSULTATION
With each planning application, residents and councillors will be able to voice concerns and the council’s planning committee then has to decide whether or not to allow permission – guided of course by the LDP.
Before we get to this point however, the draft LDP approved by councillors has to be formally adopted.
A public consultation is now taking place until March 23 where residents can have their say on the draft LDP.
It will then be submitted to the Welsh Government for examination.
An independent inspector will then publish their report in September next year.
This is the only time changes can be made to the LDP, if the inspector recommends it.
The council’s own documents state: “There is no provision in the statutory framework for the council to make changes to the plan itself.”
The map to the right, is effectively what the LDP will be, barring any changes recommended by the inspector.
The public consultation, which is happening now, will feed in and inform the inspector’s report, so all is not lost for campaigners and residents keen to see the county borough keep its green spaces.
Cllr Nigel Dix, a Labour councillor from Blackwood who is against the LDP, but did not attend the vote, is urging residents to get involved.
He said: “It is vital for people to get involved if they want to have an input into this.”
Consultation documents are available to view online at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/ldp and paper copies are available at local libraries, council Customer Service Centres and at the Planning Office at Tredomen House in Ystrad Mynach.
The council is also holding the following public exhibitions:
- Caerphilly Library, Monday February 22 to Saturday February 27 – Library opening hours.
- Blackwood Library, Monday February 29 to Saturday March 5 – Library opening hours.
- Risca Library, Monday March 7 to Saturday March 12 – Library opening hours.
- Rhymney Library, Monday March 14 to Tuesday March 15 – Library opening hours.
- Bargoed Library, Wednesday March 16 to Saturday March 19 – Library opening hours.
For more information visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/ldp or call 01495 235 376.
“LDPs are not fit for purpose”
Labour councillor and Assembly candidate Hefin David described Local Development Plans as “not fit for purpose”.
Cllr David, who is hoping to become Caerphilly’s next Assembly Member in May, voted against the draft LDP at the council meeting after being presented with a 2,100 signature petition from the Gwern y Domen Conservation Group.
He explained to Caerphilly Observer that he voted against the draft plan to highlight the inadequacies of LDPs and draw attention to the need for a wider strategic plan for South East Wales.
He said: “LDPs are not fit for purpose. They only look at the local area and don’t think about what’s happening in Cardiff, RCT, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen. You can have great infrastructure projects with planning conditions and then Cardiff do something completely different.”
Cllr David said he wanted the ten councils covering South East Wales to produce a wider plan so that each authority can manage their housing and transport demands coherently.
Cllr David also rejected accusations from Plaid Cymru AM and councillor Lindsay Whittle that he only voted against his Labour colleagues because he was standing for election.
He said: “Absolutely rubbish. I made a decision that if there was an argument I could make against the LDP, I wouldn’t vote for it.”