(Title Image: Valleys 2 Coast Housing)
Following yesterday’s First Minister’s Question, Tom Giffard MS (Con, South Wales West) was back with a question on planning for the Minister for Climate Change.
He took part in a debate in Bridgend Council as part of a campaign to protect fields in Brackla from a new school development and his question followed on from that (sort of). He told the Senedd that green spaces remained under threat as local authorities (including Bridgend) prepare Local Development Plans (LDPs) which include greenfield sites for housing developments.
What intervention powers did the Welsh Government have? If protecting green spaces or meeting housing targets came into conflict which would be prioritised?
Minister for Climate Change (who is also responsible for planning), Julie James (Lab, Swansea West), stressed the importance of LDPs in shaping new developments and land use.
While not addressing Tom Giffard’s question directly, the Minister said new national planning policies:
“….. will give councils the right tools to be able to construct their LDP in such a way that they protect the spaces that their local communities wish to protect and also bring forward the right kinds of land with the right kinds of development to make sure that we have sustainable housing and….other infrastructure projects in the future.”
– Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS
Following on, Sarah Murphy MS (Lab, Bridgend) welcomed a joint £6.4million investment by Bridgend Council and the Welsh Government in sea defences at Porthcawl – part of regeneration plans – which will protect more than 500 homes and 170 businesses from coastal flooding.
With that in mind, how would the Welsh Government ensure the proposed 1,000+ new homes planned in Porthcawl as part of the draft LDP meet low-carbon goals?
