Allocate site for housing within Revised LDP.

Much of the historical growth of the communities in East Carmarthenshire has been by linear development, with concomitant advantages and disadvantages. In the Crosshands area, developments such as Maes yr Eithin have facilitated more efficient use of land for habitation in higher denisty developments, utilising land that was not good agricultural land, often being land recovered from previous industrial use. Rather than long strands of dwellings along the roads of the County, such developments have joined villages such as Crosshands and Cefneithin to generate a more cohesive community supported by nearby shops and other facilities. This could help to improve community health by residents walking or cycling to local shops, thereby improving sustainability by reducing car journeys. Local coffee shops also help to re-establish a sense of community and reduced isolation of residents.

The LDP strives to support the growth of the economy in Sir Gaerfyrddin and specifically in the Crosshands area. The area is also attractive to people living in the urban areas of the country seeking to move to an area with easier access to the beautiful coast and countryside of Sir Gaerfyrddin. It is clear, therefore, that additional residential developments will be required. Whilst the LDP allocates some land to this growth in residential property, for example 177 new homes at Emlyn Brickworks (PrC3/MU1), this does not appear to be sufficient to meet the foreseeable growth in future demand.

The location of Emlyn Home Farm has many positive aspects to facilitate the generation of a cohesive, sustainable and considerate community. Bordered by Penygroes, Crosshands and Gorslas, the 30 acres of the farm are insufficient to render the farm a viable agricultural entity, even if the land was of a prime agricultural standard, which it is unfortunately not. The ‘brownfield land’, which was previously a part of the Emlyn colliery and brickworks enterprise, provides and an ideal opportunity to regenerate this land which is now bisected by the new economic link road, which offers excellent access. The land is of a gently rolling nature with no flooding risks. Consequently, the land offers the opportunity for a number of possible development options.

Developing the entire 30 acres of the farm could generate a community of a variety of homes with the significant advantage that the pressure to build on open countryside would be reduced. A development of the entire farm could include green spaces, community areas and facilities, a playground and houses of high standards of construction. Sustainability would be the key guiding policy of the development, in terms of home construction (low-carbon heating and high levels of Welsh wool-based insulation), the access routes (pedestrian and cycling) to the local shops and facilities and the electronic communications infrastructure to facilitate home-working.

Construction in phases would minimise disruption to neighbours. Natural habitats will be included within the green spaces of the development to enable wildlife to live in harmony with the sustainable community.