Include the site as a residential allocation

This submission is a response to Carmarthenshire County Council’s call for representations on its Second Deposit Revised Local Development Plan (LDP). The submission objects to the lack of development opportunities in
Cwmffrwd and proposes the inclusion of land at Maesglasnant, Cwmffrwd for residential development.
Various options have been submitted. The options could be developed
individually or part of a wider phased development. The submission therefore
offers flexibility to the Council with regards the quantum of development. The land offers the opportunity to bring forward much needed housing in a village where residential land is highly sought after. It would also offer the opportunity to build upon the success of the Maesglasnant estate which was developed following its allocation in the extant adopted LDP. It would also bring forward
an array of public benefits.
The suggested options for development are as follows:
 Option 1: Land to East of LDP Allocation SC18/H3/ SuV5/h
Option 2: Land to South and East of LDP Allocation SC18/H3/ SuV5/h1
 Option 3: Land North East of LDP Allocation SC18/H3/ SuV5/h1
 Option 4: Land North-East and East of LDP Allocation SC18/H3/ SuV5/h1
 Option 5: Land North-East, East and South of LDP Allocation SC18/H3/ SuV5/h1
The extent of development possible through each option is to be negotiated with Council representatives.
The need and associated benefits, is set out in detail below.

The Need for the Development
The Carmarthenshire LDP was adopted by the Council in December 2014 and since that date the Council has failed to satisfy a number of its housing objectives, as monitored through its LDP Review Report.

Despite this, the LDP allocation at Maesglasnant (formerly referred as LDP Residential Allocation SC18/H3, but referred as Second Revised Deposit Residential Allocation SuV5/h1) is very close to being built out, reflective of the success of the allocation.

The site has been delivered much faster than anticipated and this is a clear indication of the need for development in the area. It is also inevitable that this need will become particularly accentuated through the proposed Second
Deposit Replacement LDP as no new allocations are proposed within Cwmffrwd. Rather, an allocation to the rear of St. Anne’s Church car park has been omitted as an allocation. Whilst this is clearly the correct decision given the inability to bring the land forward for development, it should be replaced to avoid a housing void for the forthcoming development plan period. As a viable and deliverable site, with no significant site constraints, the land at Maesglasnant is clearly capable of filling this void.

Sustainability, Compatibility with Spatial Strategy and Other Benefits
The ‘Preferred Spatial Option’ identified through the proposed Second Deposit Replacement LDP is described as a ‘Balanced Community and Sustainable
Growth Strategy’. The village of Cwmffrwd has been identified as a ‘Tier 3: Sustainable Village’. The strategy promoted by the Council seeks to, amongst other things, provide opportunities for rural areas and recognize that growth should be deliverable and orientated to a community’s needs and market demand.

As set out in Section 2 above, the need and market demand in Cwmffrwd is acute, with no new allocations. It is therefore unclear how the ‘Balanced Community and Sustainable Growth Strategy’ has been applied to the village of Cwmffrwd. This is particularly confusing given the clear deliverability benefits on offer at the land promoted at Maesglasnant.

Cwmffrwd is located only a short distance from the ‘Regional Centre’ of Carmarthen and therefore offers a sustainable option for growth relative to a number of the other cluster settlements identified in the same category.
Indeed, significant weight should be attributed to the fact that Cwmffrwd is located within close proximity to the wide variety of facilities and services located in and around Carmarthen, Pensarn and Pibwrlwyd.

The village is accessible by a reliable bus service and via the cycleway and pedestrian footpath along the A484

It is inevitable that a proportion of trips from Cwmffrwd to Carmarthen would involve the use of the private car. However, as such trips are limited in terms of distance, the development of the site would provide significant environmental and sustainability advantages over those settlements located in more remote locations.

Within this context, it is worth noting that, amongst other things, Cwmffrwd offers a sustainable location:
Approximately 2 miles of the extensive facilities and services on offer within Carmarthen;
Approximately 0.9 miles from the education facilities at Pibwrlwyd, including Pibwrlwyd College and Ysgol Bro Myrddin;
Approximately 1.5 miles to the broad range of facilities and services at Llangynnor/ Pensarn;
An extensive and reliable bus services along the A484 and Heol Bolahaul;
A cycleway and pedestrian footway from the village to Carmarthen town centre and Morrisons supermarket (and associated retail developments);
 Nursery/ crèche facilities and services;
 A variety of places of worship; and
 A Royal Mail post box.

It is therefore contended that a residential allocation within Cwmffrwd would be justified and in accordance with the sustainability principles that underpin national planning policy set out within PPW. It is also submitted that, based onthe foregoing, a level of growth in excess of that allocated in the adopted LDP would be justified.

Without the residential allocation of additional land at Maesglasnant, it is submitted that the cluster model referred within the Plan would fail to benefit the area, to the detriment of the local people.
see attachment