A particular an economic benefit for the few can undermine the economic and social benefits to the many when the natural features of local landscape are despoiled with resultant loss of status as a beautiful place to enjoy.
Innovation and technology has greatly increased the ability to erect very substantial structures in new locations with an ease and economy that would astonish previous generations. This results in the presence of buildings or structures being erected in unexpected places that would never previously have been seen as requiring particular protection as such structures would never have been considered practical or feasible.
The retention of Special Landscape Areas increases transparency in the planning process ultimately leading to cost efficiencies on behalf of both developers and the local authority by emphasising that the appearance of these areas are of particular concern to the citizens of Carmarthenshire.

I wish to support the retention of Special Landscape Areas in the Carmarthenshire Development Plan. Although not as good a planning protection as the status of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty their presence as a part of Carmarthenshire County Council Planning Policy at least indicates to developers where visual impact is particularly valued.
The landscape of Carmarthenshire, in particular that surrounding the Tywi valley, is widely admired but clearly it is taken for granted. With the speed of advances in construction technology and the pressure of economic change its landscape heritage needs protection now more than ever.