Amend Plan to include the site

Context of Representation

The representation relates to the designation of the land to the rear of Lower Trostre Road, Llanelli.
The existing Local Development Plan (2006 - 2021) positions the site within the defined settlement limit.
The revised Local Development Plan (2018 - 2033), positions the site outside of the defined settlement limit.

Requested Change and Rationale

This representation simply requests that the settlement limit defined within the extant Local Development Plan is replicated within the revised version. It is considered that the area in question forms part of the urban area rather than a countryside location. The rationale for this is down to the fact that the land is more in keeping with the adjoining settlement, given the existence of a range of dominant and long-established outbuildings, which are intrinsically linked with the adjoining developments and accessed via existing highway infrastructure. The land is also used and maintained as garden space for well over the last decade and as such is fenced off to clearly differentiate from the open countryside.

Furthermore, authorised works undertaken to support current land uses on the wider site (such as the equestrian manège and stables) have further established the land as being part of the urban area within the settlement hierarchy. There is a distinct differential between this area and the wider countryside, especially in terms of site levels, character and land uses. It is considered that this was acknowledged in the designation within the extant Local Development Plan, subsequently reinforced by planning approvals attained on the land (stable block), which makes the proposed change in the revised Plan highly questionable and the rationale for its exclusion unsubstantiated.

I would urge that the proposed change is supported by the Council and would welcome the opportunity to review the above considerations via a site visit. Should you require further information, then I will be more than happy to provide it to inform the review process.

To supplement the commentary made above, I have set out below a range of photographs for your consideration:

Photograph 1: Captures the urban setting of the land, with highway access, defined boundaries and a collection of established buildings.

Photograph 2: Highlights the questionable proposed settlement boundary. Properties on the right are within, whilst the left side compound, the highway itself and the building ahead are outside.

Photograph 3: A collection of substantial buildings have been on the site for a number of years and are directly accessed from the adjoining highway.

Photograph 4: The land includes a recently constructed stable block, along with a landscaped and maintained garden space, totally detached and distinct from the adjoining wider open countryside.