Testun llawn:
Further to the publication of the above document, we have been asked by our Client to
review its contents, policies and proposals and advise them of any aspects we believe would
unreasonably affect their aspirations and interests. In doing so, we consider that the
proposed provisions of Policy HOM3 are of particular interest to our Client and indeed the
Community they form part of. As a result, we offer the following for the Authority’s
consideration, and Inspector’s in due course.
Policy HOM3 – Homes in Rural Villages
It is clear that Policy HOM3 seeks to rectify the deficiency of previous Development Plans
and their policies when it comes to addressing the housing needs and requirements of all
members of a rural community, in addition to those in direct social housing need. In order to
sustain, preserve or recover a community’s level of sustainability, it is vital that provision for
new housing is made available for all its members, irrespective of their social or economic
backgrounds. This then ensures a positive balance within such communities that will secure
their sustainability for the future, as under-provision of new housing in such settlements has
been a key factor in the decline and removal of many key community facilities (e.g. schools)
within them during previous Plan periods. It is considered that Policy HOM3, by in large
therefore, now makes a significant move towards ensuring that local planning policy in
Carmarthenshire goes some way to assist in securing this objective.
Notwithstanding the above, such rural communities and the settlements they relate to or
revolve around are somewhat smaller than established satellite villages and their associated
larger towns. Growth is therefore needed, but in a controlled manner to preserve
environmental aspects of a geographic area. Again, we and our Client welcome Policy
HOM3 criteria related aspects that allow, but at the same time control, growth of the related
Rural Villages. We also welcome that such growth should be limited to take place in the
following circumstances:
Minor infill or a small gap between the existing built form; or
Logical extensions and/or rounding off of the development pattern that fits in with the
character of the village form and landscape; or
Conversion or the sub-division of large dwellings.
Support is therefore offered to the principle’s for supporting growth set out in Policy HOM3,
although concerns are raised with regards to the proposed level and calculation of the ‘cap’
set out within its provisions, and this is the subject of a separate representation.
Rural Village – Felingwm Isaf
The inclusion of Felingwm Isaf as a Rural Village of Cluster 1 is both welcomed and
supported. Felingwm Isaf is located at a sustainable location with good access to nearby
larger settlements that contain a wide range of local services and community facilities. It is
also positioned on a public highway that is served by a regular service, giving it good access
to further settlements of the County and their associated facilities and services. Its
sustainable location therefore merits its designation as a Rural Village to enable it to
facilitate further housing development to serve the immediate rural community.
In addition to the above, we would highlight that our Client’s land (edged red in Plan A)
represents one such opportunity for new housing development and being encapsulated by
existing development on three sides would represent a logical infill opportunity (as supported
by Policy HOM3) in the settlement.
Plan A
In addition, with our Clients owning the directly adjoining area of land, any such development
would also be capable of adhering to the requirements of Natural Resources Wales with
regards to the treatment of phosphates from any new development.
On behalf of our Client, we therefore fully support the provision of Policy HOM3 and the
designation of Felingwm Isaf as a Rural Village capable of accommodating further open
marking housing development following the adoption of the Carmarthenshire Local
Development Plan.
