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 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 – Maesybont
The inclusion of Maesybont as a Rural Village of Cluster 3 is both welcomed and supported.
Maesybont is located at a sustainable location, being close to a number of community
facilities and local services it and surrounding settlements benefit from. It also has good
access to nearby larger settlements that contain a wider range of local services and
community facilities. Its position on a regular bus service route also further contributes to its
sustainability level and as a suitable location for 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 well related to the
existing form of the village, it would represent a logical round-off opportunity (as supported
by Policy HOM3) in the settlement.
Plan A
On behalf of our Client, we therefore fully support the designation of Maesybont as a Rural
Village under the provisions of Policy HOM3 capable of accommodating further open market
housing development following the adoption of the Carmarthenshire Local Development
Plan.
