Bridgend Council has published its final draft/deposit version of the replacement Local Development Plan (LDP), which will determine what types of developments will be allowed and where until 2033.
As in the last LDP, the overall strategy (pdf) is to focus development in and around the main settlements in the county, namely Bridgend, Porthcawl, Maesteg, Pencoed, the Pyle/North Cornelly area and the “Valleys Gateway” (Sarn, Tondu, Aberkenfig, Ynysawdre, Brynmenyn, Bryncethin etc.).
The LDP has been drafted to provide enough land to support an additional 7,500 jobs and just over 9,200 homes backdated to 2018 (of which around 2,000 should be “affordable”). Council officers project a population increase of around 13,700 by 2033 – roughly similar to number of people who currently live in Brackla.
Here’s a summary of some of the main policies, which are included in the accompanying map (pdf).
The Key Strategic Sites
These are largely unchanged from the original proposals. These are where the bulk of new developments would take place, being mainly regeneration or housing-led but including retail, new schools, leisure facilities etc. Around 1,400 of the projected homes needed between 2018-2033 have already been built, mainly at Parc Derwen, the area around Brackla Industrial Estate and smaller developments at the former Pencoed Primary school, Jubilee Crescent (Heol Loveluck), the former Archbishop McGrath and Ogmore schools and Heol Ty Maen plus others.
Land south east of Pyle (everything between the railway and the M4) – The largest strategic site in the deposit LDP, potentially accommodating 2,000 new homes (15% affordable), two primary schools, a new local retail centre, a foot/cycle bridge over the railway linking to Pyle and 8 hectares of open space. Pyle railway station could be moved here to develop a transport interchange to improve links to Porthcawl.
Porthcawl Waterfront – The same area as the current regeneration scheme, including Salt Lake and Sandy Bay. This site is earmarked for 1,115 new homes (30% affordable), a new 1 form entry Welsh-medium primary school and extended Newton Primary. It includes a new food store (Aldi), leisure facilities, new bus terminus and 3.5 hectares of open space. A new roundabout would provide access to Sandy Bay.
Island Farm, Bridgend – A development of up to 847 homes (20% affordable), a new (presumably English-medium) primary school, a replacement for Heronsbridge special school, outdoor recreation and leisure space. Hut 9 would be retained and the A48 improved.
Land between Bryntirion & Laleston – 850 houses (20% affordable), with a new primary school and 12.8 hectares of open space. A new signalised junction would be provided on the A473. Llangewydd Road would be shut to vehicles at the Bryntirion end.
Land east of Pencoed – 770 houses (20% affordable) located next to the Bridgend College campus. It includes a new primary school. A moratorium on development west of the railway line in Pencoed will remain in place until the Penprysg Road bridge and level crossing issues are resolved.
Other Major Housing Allocations
- Parc Afon Ewenni, Waterton, Bridgend – 645 homes.
- Craig-y-Parcau (south of Broadlands roundabout) – 110 homes.
- Three separate parcels of land south of Pont Rhyd-y-Cyff – 372 homes.
- Former Cooper Standard/Cosi/Revlon factory, Ewenny Road, Maesteg – 138 homes (though the City Region project suggests it’ll be more than this).
- Maesteg Washery Reclamation Scheme – 135 homes
- Coegnant Reclamation Scheme, Nantyfyllon – 100 homes.
- 3 traveller pitches at Court Colman (next to the M4) and near Bryncethin depot respectively (total of 6 pitches).
Employment, Commercial & Retail
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- Brocastle and Pencoed Technology Park are considered the two main strategic employment sites. The redevelopment/repurposing of the former Ford engine plant is also considered a high priority.
- Existing larger employment sites that could be extended include Brackla Industrial Estate, Village Farm, Abergarw Industrial Estate, Bocam Park and Brynmenyn Industrial Estate.
- New employment sites include land next to/west of Sarn Services, part of Maesteg Ewenny Road and Ty Draw Farm.
- There’s a presumption in favour of town centre-based retail development. There are no big “out of town” retail land allocations and expansion of Bridgend Designer Outlet will only be considered as part of existing Section 106 agreements.
- The key strategic retail and commercial strategic sites are Southside, Bridgend (Cheapside and Brackla Street – read more in the proposed town centre masterplan) and Porthcawl Waterfront.
Transport
- Walking and cycling routes are generally being developed as part of the council’s separate mapping exercise and don’t feature heavily in the deposit LDP, though there’s an expectation that all new developments link into the active travel network.
- A bus-based park and ride facility for Porthcawl.
- The proposed Brackla railway station and park and ride remain.
- Half-hourly Maesteg rail services with a new passing loop.
- Extended/new park and ride facilities at Pyle, Maesteg Ewenny Road and Pencoed railway stations.
- As mentioned, Pyle railway station could be moved eastwards to be closer to Village Farm and the proposed strategic development off the A48 (though that immediately brings into question BCBC’s pursuit of a park and ride at the existing station).
- Dualling of the A48 between Laleston and Waterton, with improvements/upgrades to the Ewenny Road and Broadlands roundabouts.
- Unspecified improvements to the A4063 between Tondu and Maesteg.
- Bus corridor improvements in the Llynfi, Ogmore and Garw valleys, Porthcawl-Cornelly and corridors between Pyle and Pencoed via Aberkenfig.
Green Space, Environment & Energy
A lot of land that was previously protected as green space or are of special significance (i.e. Merthyr Mawr, Kenfig Burrows) remain protected in the deposit LDP. The most important other policies being:
- Brackla Ridge (including land north of Archedecon John Lewis school) and Land off Waunscil Avenue (currently subject to a planning application) are included as green buffer space.
- Land is protected for extensions to Porthcawl, Cornelly and Sarn cemeteries. The marketing of the Parc Hospital burial grounds made headlines recently and although it’s not included for development, the settlement boundary of Parc Derwen does cut through it on the map – though this is probably just a sign of ownership. It’s quite clear BCBC would oppose any development there.
- Caerau & Brynglas Market Garden and land south of Llangeinor Football Club is allocated as space for allotments and community food production.
- Llangynwyd Uplands and Ogmore forest have been earmarked for onshore wind development, while Newton Downs is allocated for a solar farm.
- The LDP target is for at least 30% of all households in the county to have low carbon heating systems by 2033, though the bulk of that is likely to come from the expansion and installation of district heat networks.
In terms of the equality impact (pdf), the council claims there would be positives in terms of disability, age and race because housing developments would be more carefully targeted at areas that are accessible, while there would also be extra planning guidance on the types of houses which would be built. They’re not anticipating a negative impact on any other group.
Subject to cabinet approval, an 8-week public consultation on the LDP is set to begin in June 2021.
The public consultation was recently opened and comments need to be in by July 27th 2021. All the details are available here.
Once that consultation is completed, the deposit LDP will be submitted to the Welsh Government for examination by an appointed planning inspector, who will recommend any changes.