Development masterplan set for public consultation

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council has agreed to carry out widespread public consultation over a masterplan which, once finalised, will be used to determine what kinds of development can take place throughout the area between now and 2033.

The replacement Local Development Plan (LDP), which is currently at the draft deposit stage, features all of the policies that the authority will use when determining future planning applications.

It sets out how land can be used, and which parts of the county borough will be maintained as open space or designated for residential, employment, retail, waste, mineral development, community and tourism purposes.

The plan incorporates several potential development sites that have been put forward, including locations within Porthcawl, Pyle, Pencoed, Island Farm, Parc Afon Ewenny, land to the west of Bridgend and as part of the town centre masterplan.

With a projected population increase, the draft LDP proposes making enough land available to support the development of 7,500 new jobs and almost 9,200 homes, including 2,000 affordable dwellings. As this part of the plan is backdated to 2018, some of the 9,200 new homes have already been built.

It also includes transportation developments such as park and ride facilities for Porthcawl and the proposed Brackla railway station, extended / new park and ride facilities at Pyle, Maesteg Ewenny Road and Pencoed, a new replacement road bridge over the railway at Pencoed, a new passing loop and half-hour rail services to Maesteg, and bus corridor improvements in the Llynfi, Ogmore and Garw valleys, between Porthcawl and Cornelly and between Pyle, Aberkenfig and Pencoed.

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “Setting out what development can take place within the county borough is always a difficult process.

“It means maintaining a realistic approach that balances national and local requirements with the views of developers and local communities, and arriving at a conclusion which meets the future needs of the county borough and the expectations of Welsh Government planning inspectors.

“For example, setting land aside for the construction of new housing is often unpopular, but the population is growing and people are living for longer - the real question we should be asking ourselves is where we expect our own children to live as they grow up and start families of their own?”

 Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “While the majority of these proposals are already consistent with the aims and policies of the council, others require closer scrutiny. But site options will only go forward to the next phase of the LDP process if associated technical issues, such as whether there is sufficient infrastructure to accompany the proposals, can be resolved to the satisfaction of the council.

“While this is not the final plan, it does demonstrate the direction in which the LDP is heading, and it is essential for people to provide feedback which can be taken into account before the plan is completed.”

The Local Development Plan acknowledges the fact that people are living for longer, and that we need places where future generations can live, work and enjoy cultural and recreational opportunities. It seeks to establish a series of well-connected, cohesive communities which enjoy improved access to services and facilities, new employment opportunities, schools, travel routes and more.

We will take account of the feedback to the public consultation, make whatever changes are deemed necessary, and will decide if any further consultation is required. The draft LDP will only be submitted to Welsh Government when the council is satisfied that it is ready to do so. Once submitted, it will be subject to an inquiry presided over by a planning inspector, so further changes may be required. Once that process has been concluded, the draft LDP will go before a meeting of full Council for a final decision, and if approved at that point, it will serve as the new LDP for the next 15 years.

This is a huge undertaking which has been years in the making. The LDP has an effect on every person living in the county borough, so I hope that as many people as possible will study it and have their say as part of the forthcoming consultation.

Council Leader Huw David

To take part in the consultation, residents and developers will need to submit cases outlining their support or objections based on planning grounds.

The consultation will be held over eight weeks, and all responses will be carefully analysed and taken account of. Further consultation may be organised if it is deemed necessary.

Details of how people will be able to take part in the public consultation and have their say will be extensively publicised in June 2021.