At this month’s full council meeting, councillors approved the final version of Bridgend’s Local Development Plan (LDP). The LDP sets out how land is to be used in the county until 2033 (backdated to 2018).
For more background on what an LDP is, go to the sister site State of Wales for How Wales Works: Local Development Plans – Why do we need them?
The final LDP map is available here (pdf).
The LDP’s main proposals (summary)
As the plans haven’t changed that much from the draft LDP, a more detailed summary is available here.
- Five large “strategic development sites” which will provide the bulk of land for housing throughout the LDP. These are Island Farm, land to the south-east of Pyle, Porthcawl Waterfront, land between Bryntirion and Laleston (“Parc Llangewydd”, partially pictured above) and land to the east of Pencoed (surrounding the Bridgend College campus).
- New employment sites to the west of Sarn Park services and at Ty Draw Farm in Pyle.
- Several smaller housing developments in the Llynfi Valley around Pont Rhyd-y-Cyff and at Maesteg Ewenny Road, as well as Craig-y-Parcau (Broadlands roundabout).
- Moving Pyle station to the east (to serve the strategic development site), while land has been kept for the future Brackla station.
The Planning Inspector’s Report
The deposit/draft LDP – which was approved by the council in October 2022 – has been examined by a Welsh Government planning inspector over the last year.
The inspector’s report (pdf) concluded that the LDP was sound. Most of the suggested changes were relatively minor or were known to be needed beforehand. These changes include:
- Removing the Parc Afon Ewenni housing development at Waterton and adding a housing development allocation at the former Cosi/Revlon/Cooper Standard side in Maesteg.
- A reduction in the number of required houses from 9,207 to 8,628 due to changes in projections – with a cut in housing allocations at Porthcawl Waterfront, Island Farm and Pyle and a minor increase at Bryntirion-Laleston and Pencoed.
- Affordable housing targets have been cut from 1,977 to 1,711.
- A proposed 3-pitch traveller site near Bryncethin Depot has been removed.
- Changes to policies on affordable housing in rural areas, housing density and homes of multiple occupation (HMOs).
- Requiring more detail on Strategic Development Sites.
- A “minor reduction” in the land requirement for employment from 71.8 hectares to 68.8 hectares.
What councillors said
The majority of the comments touched on issues that are associated with extra development – pressure on public services, traffic problems, air pollution etc. Many of these were raised when the draft LDP was approved for submission.
Cllr. Martin Williams (Ind, Coity Higher) asked how planning applications that don’t fit with the LDP’s land allocations would be dealt with.
Councillors were reminded that there’s a legal requirement to use the LDP as the main basis for making planning decisions. Applications outside of the LDP are rarely “looked upon favourably”, but still need to be treated on a case-by-case basis. Some examples of “favourable” applications outside of the LDP include critical infrastructure or applications that support major employers.
Cllr. Melanie Evans (Lab, Pencoed & Penprysg) asked for an update on proposals to replace the Penprysg Road bridge, which has led to a moratorium on development to the west of the railway through Pencoed being kept in place.
Still seen as an important strategic transport project. BCBC were unsuccessful in bidding for UK Government funding, but talks will continue with Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government.
The LDP was approved unanimously.
