Testun llawn:
1. Introduction
We would to include a field along Llannon Road, B4306, next to the existing row of
street fronted dwellings to be considered as a candidate site to be included in the
new Local Development Plan.
2. Site Appraisal
This candidate site consists of a grassed sloping field at the southern site of
Pontyberem. Gently sloping towards the village. It is of a rectangular shape and can
be found just outside the settlement limits of Pontyberem Unitary development plan.
It is bordered on all four sides by mature hedgerows with a few trees, which will not affect
any development.
3. Access
There is an existing access points onto Llannon Road which is wide enough for a
new development site. There is no pedestrianized access and no public footpath
along the road.
At the point of entering the main road has a 50-mph controlled zone in place with a
good visibility standard in both directions up and down. No restrictions through tress,
bends or hedgerows. The road has got a good alignment.
4. Flooding
The site lies well above the water level and in good distance from any water course.
No evidence can be found on the flood maps issued by the Environmental Agency –
Wales.
5. Pollution
This field is currently greenfield sites and use for grazing.
No evidence of a past development can be found.
The radon level is under 1%.
No known contamination as happened to the land.
Not adjacent to a mineral buffer zone
The site does not lie in a sandstone recognised area.
No overhead power cable run through the field.
No activities have taken place which would have resulted in a contamination of the
soil or the sub soil.
6. Main services
All services: mains water supply, foul sewer, electricity and high-speed electronic
communications networks, are in the next field along. The area is serviced by the
local bin collection.
7. Historic Importance
The site is not in a conservation area.
None of surrounding buildings are listed.
No know or apparent feature of heritage of archaeological importance can be found
on the land.
No land infills took place.
The site has not been used for any industrial use or as a waste site.
No coal mining has been taken place on or in close proximity to the site.
8. Landscape and ecology
This site has been used for grassing.
There is no knowledge of any protected species on or surrounding. However, a full
ecological survey would need to be necessary before any development could take
place.
This sloping site can be seen from parts of the main road running through the village
and from across the valley. The field is next to row of houses as well as a field which
was included in the last LDP. New dwellings should be design with the surrounding
residential houses in mind.
A couple of trees can be found in the hedgerows which runs along all boundaries.
9. Possible constrains
Overhead power cables run through the field and alongside the road at the candidate
site. Contact has been made to move those cables to a different position in another
field owned by the same person.
No underground or phone lines would cause a problem for a possible development.
10. Settlement - Boundaries
This candidate site lies outside the settlement limits of Carmarthenshire as defined in
the local UDP -GR1. It is surrounded by residential development.
In the last LPDs (December 2014) a surrounding site in close proximity (just 2 fields
along) had been included; T3/6/h6.
Pontyberem is a small town which got all necessary amenities in close proximity.
General hospital 9.5 miles
Secondary school 5 miles
Primary schools, less than ¼ mile
Leisure centers, 9 miles
Town center, ¼ mile
Dentist & GP surgeries, ¼ mile
11. Transport links
The transport links to Carmarthen and Llanelli town are well established and
developed.
train station is in Kidwelly, 8 miles away
bus line is along Llannon Road with the next stop a few hundred meters down
the road.
Carmarthen town 9 miles
Llanelli town 8 miles
A48 motorway link is 9 min away
M4 is reached in 15 min
12. Conclusion
The site is next to a row of houses belonging to the Pontyberem. Right next this field
lies an area of tow fields which were included in the last LDP. Our proposed
development can easily be joined to the fields included last time and seen as one. In
this incidence the existing road access can be used for both sites.
We cannot see any obvious adverse effect on the developments in close proximity.
Not enough house developments in Carmarthenshire, has been implemented since
the last LDP was approved, which has led to a shortfall of housing sites in
Carmarthenshire.
Especially in Pontyberem not a lot of sites had been included in the last LDP.
There would an increase in traffic given amount of new dwelling which could be
erected in this field. However, the main road as well as the village can cope with
new developments and their traffic.
The existing access can be used and maybe widened to serve the new
development.
It is worth emphasising at the outset that the site:
will help sustain the community by providing dwellings in a location that
reinforces the traditional settlement pattern;
is of modest size and is situated adjacent to a proposed residential allocation;
would not result in the loss of any important amenity feature or represent an
unacceptable intrusion into the landscape;
would not give rise to any recognised highway or utility service provision
objections
would fully comply with established planning policies that direct development
to sustainable locations in terms of proximity to urban facilities and a public
transport route.
it is closely related to the main public transport corridors;
the site is conveniently located in terms of schools and other services and
facilities;
the site is not constrained by any significant environmental considerations,
including ecological designations;
it will be contained within existing defendable boundaries and will not give rise
to any harmful precedent for further residential development.
It is felt that there is scope for additional small sites to be identified to receive
residential development, in order to provide further choice.
The inclusion would not create any amenity, highway or utility service provision
difficulty.
