Cabinet has reviewed the consultation feedback on the Preferred Strategy for the Revised Local Development Plan (2022-2037). Members agreed to make changes to the Preferred Strategy in response to some of the main issues raised, and endorsed the continuation of the process with these amendments.
The LDP is a statutory land use planning document which sets out a future vision for the County Borough, allocating land for development uses such as housing, employment, retail and tourism – and plays a key role in determining planning applications. It includes important policies to protect the environment, increase green spaces, reduce carbon emissions, and encourage renewable energy production – adhering to the Council’s climate change commitments.
The Preferred Strategy is the first formal stage to revise the LDP to cover the period up to 2037. It sets out key issues, a vision, objectives, and strategy options. The Strategy was consulted upon from February 21 to April 17, 2024. Residents could also have their say on the Candidate Sites Register which includes sites submitted by the public in a previous engagement exercise.
On Monday, September 21, officers outlined the feedback received in the consultation to Cabinet Members – presenting an Initial Consultation Report that summarises the engagement activity, sets out the main issues identified, and proposes how the Council addresses these. The document is available to view as an Appendix to Monday’s Cabinet report on the Council website.
A list of the consultation activities is included at the bottom of this update. In total, 4,964 representations were made to the consultation – just over 1,000 comments on the Preferred Strategy, and more than 3,900 on the Candidate Sites Register.
The responses within the Initial Consultation Report are split into sections. The first shows comments received against the nine sections of the Preferred Strategy (Introduction, Background Evidence, Issues, Objectives, Settlement Hierarchy, Growth Options, Spatial Strategy Options, Preferred Strategy and Strategic Policies).
Officers have noted that many important and relevant matters or ‘main issues’ were raised – some of these are satisfactorily addressed under the remit of the current stage of the process, while some will need to be further considered when officers prepare the next, more detailed Deposit stage of the RLDP. These are listed and briefly expanded upon in Monday’s Cabinet report, and its Appendix – the Initial Consultation Report, which is available here.
There are then more significant ‘main issues’, including those that were raised by Welsh Government – some of which have required some changes to be proposed to the Preferred Strategy at this point in the process.
One such issue raised concern about the Spatial Strategy section, with more explanation and evidence requested on some elements of the housing supply and its distribution across the Settlement Hierarchy. Officers have proposed this to be included in the relevant section. Another change related to concern about Regional Collaboration. Officers note that further work will be completed with neighbouring authorities and the region as the RLDP progresses.
However, the most significant Welsh Government representation related to the potential Key Site 4 – Llantwit Fardre/Efail Isaf. This was also reflected in the weight of objection received from the public to this potential key site, with 402 comments received in relation to the Preferred Strategy and 3,335 to sites in the Llantwit Fardre ward in the Candidate Sites Register (86% of the total representations made to sites in the Register).
Concerns included that the site does not accord with National Policy, that it was previously refused planning permission, that there is a flood risk, and that a major loss of ecology would occur. In addition, they raised that local highways are beyond capacity and that there are a lack of education and healthcare services locally, while developing around Efail Isaf would double the number of houses in the village.
In response, officers have considered the matter in great detail – to balance growth and much-needed new housing against the need to protect greenfield sites and promote sustainable transport. As a result, Efail Isaf is removed from Key Site 4, including all land that sits to the east of the Church Village bypass. All constituent Candidate Sites from this area are removed from the process. The Ystrad Barwig site will remain as a Candidate Site, but not as a Key Site.
In addition, 18 new Candidate Sites were submitted during the consultation process. Of particular note is a considerable site of almost 27 hectares at Llantrisant Golf Course, which is proposed for housing. Further detail of these sites is included in the Initial Consultation Report and the Cabinet report.
It should be noted that the Initial Consultation Report is not subject to a consultation – but the public will have a formal opportunity to have their say in the next stage of the process (the Deposit RLDP) in 2025.
At this stage, the Report’s proposals will be appropriately incorporated into the Preferred Strategy and the 18 new candidate sites that have been submitted will be taken forward for further, more detailed consideration.
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, said: “Cabinet Members have considered a detailed update on the process of revising the Local Development Plan for Rhondda Cynon Taf. This included an Initial Consultation Report, a statutory document, after the extensive engagement process earlier this year. Almost 5,000 representations were received overall, with around 250 further people attending events organised by our Planning Policy team.
“It has been decided that, overall, the proposed Preferred Strategy for the Revised LDP is sound. Where relevant matters were raised, in the majority of cases these can be addressed in the next stage of the process. In addressing some of the more significant representations and the ‘main issues’ raised in the consultation, officers have proposed some changes to the Strategy – which have now been agreed by Cabinet Members.
“The inclusion of Efail Isaf as part of a Key Site was the most concerning issue to both residents and the Welsh Government, and therefore it’s right that it has now been removed. It is also important to note that one of the proposed new Candidate Sites at Llantrisant Golf Club could partially mitigate the loss of housing from Efail Isaf being removed. This, along with 17 other new Candidate Sites, have been initially assessed and will have further consideration going forward.
“The LDP plays a critical role in determining planning applications submitted to the Council and establishing key policies relating to our climate change goals. Therefore, it is so important that the process of revising the document and extending it for the period up to 2037 is completed thoroughly – while engaging with residents, businesses, developers and other stakeholders. I’m pleased that so many people took part in the latest stage of the consultation, which has informed key changes going forward. Officers will keep the public up-to-date with key milestones of the process as it progresses.”
The consultation activity included notifying 810 stakeholders registered on the Revised LDP consultation list (plus relevant groups). Information pages were included on the Council’s website and signposted on social media, while in-person events were held at local venues like libraries, community centres and leisure centres. Officers also attended engagement events with Cwm Taf Morgannwg NHS, Taff Disability forum and the Cynon Older Persons forum.
