Second Deposit LDP

3. Influences on the Plan

Overview

3.1 Whilst the LDP plays a key role in shaping decision making and the location and nature of developments within the County, it is prepared and operated within the national framework set through legislation and by Planning Policy Wales^[18] and accompanying Technical Advice Notes^[19].

3.2 The process itself for the preparation of the LDP is set within statutory regulations, with further procedural guidance contained within the LDP Manual as prepared by the Welsh Government. The preparation and content of the LDP will be assessed against three tests of soundness^[20] namely:

1. Does the plan fit?
2. Is the plan appropriate?
3. Will the plan deliver?

3.3 The preparation of the Plan will culminate with the Planning Inspector (as appointed by the Welsh Government). The Inspector will examine the LDP against these three tests to assess its soundness. The findings of the Examination will be published in the Inspector's Report, and its content and recommendations are binding on the Authority.

3.4 As the Council plans for the future, we must also work closely with, and respond to, various partners, other agencies, funding bodies and decision makers to inform, guide and implement programmes and proposals. The LDP, whilst central in informing future policies, programmes, and investment strategies across a range of agencies and bodies will have also been influenced by and reflect those which support the delivery of its policies and proposals.

3.5 A number of important documents and strategies relate to Carmarthenshire. We have and will, where applicable, prepare the plan to reflect such documents and plans of other organisations, including our neighbouring planning authorities, and national and regional policies and strategies. We will work with our neighbours and others in the preparation of the LDP as appropriate.

3.6 There have been several significant contextual changes in Welsh legislation since the adoption of the current LDP. These include the publication of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. Perhaps most significant however, is the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. This represents a big change, with the Plan required to contribute to its aims of improving the economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being of Wales as part of carrying out sustainable development. This has prompted changes in national planning policy as set out within PPW with the publication of Edition 11 in February 2021. Regard has also been had to the South-west Wales Area Statement (SWWAS). The Statement was produced in 2020 against a backdrop of the Welsh Government's declaration of a Climate and Nature Emergencies. These two issues are interrelated and are in themselves symptoms of the unsustainable management of natural resources. They require a whole systems approach, and as such both issues feature across all the SWWAS themes of:

• Reducing health inequalities
• Ensuring sustainable land management
• Reversing the decline of, and enhancing, biodiversity
• Cross-cutting theme: Mitigating and adapting to a changing climate

3.7 A further landmark development in the planning and development plan system in Wales is adoption of Future Wales: the national plan 2040^[21]. This essentially represents the development plan for Wales, setting out the direction for development in Wales from 2020 – 2040. It represents the top tier as part of the hierarchy of development plans and during its preparation informed and following its adoption has informed the preparation of the Revised LDP.

3.8 The Revised LDP is required to conform to the content of the Future Wales.

3.9 The Plan takes into consideration the national well-being goals and objectives, the content of the Carmarthenshire Well-being Plan^[22] as well as the Council's own well-being objectives^[23] in its policies and proposals.

3.10 The Council, in preparing its New Corporate Strategy, consolidated the following plans into the one document and will underpin many aspects of the LDP in moving forward:

1. It supersedes the 2015-20 Corporate Strategy;
2. It incorporates our Improvement Objectives as required by the Local Government Measure 2009;
3. It includes our Well-being Objectives as required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. For the first time in Wales, there is a shared vision and set of goals for all public bodies to work towards, our Well-being Objectives are set to maximise our contribution to these,
4. It includes Carmarthenshire County Council's Executive Board key projects and programmes for the next 5 years as set out in 'Moving Forward in Carmarthenshire: the next 5 years.

3.11 The Plan in recognising the diversity of Carmarthenshire also has important regard to several Council Plans and initiatives aimed specifically at the issues affecting our rural areas, notably in relations to the findings of the Councils Rural Affairs Task Group and its 55 recommendations. The Moving Rural Carmarthenshire Forward report considers the issues affecting the rural communities in Carmarthenshire and to identify actions the Council, in partnership with other public bodies and organisations, can take in addressing those issues to ensure and support rural regeneration in future years^[24].

3.12 The Task Group identified several key areas that influence the issues facing rural communities in Carmarthenshire as follows, and are reflected in the report's findings:

• Economic Development
• Planning and Housing
• Education and Skills
• Broadband and Digital Skills
• Tourism
• Transport and Highways
• Agriculture and Food
• Community Resilience, Access to Services and Third Sector
• Renewable Energy
• Environment and Waste
• The Way Forward.

3.13 A key recommendation emerging from Moving Rural Carmarthenshire Forward related to the rejuvenation of Ten Towns across rural Carmarthenshire. Part of this initiative has included working with the local communities and stakeholders in ten identified rural towns (and their surrounding communities) to develop individual plans that aim to deliver long-term strategic visions to secure their economic, cultural, social, and environmental sustainability. The ten rural towns identified are as follows:

• Llandovery
• Llandeilo
• St. Clears
• Whitland
• Newcastle Emlyn
• Laugharne
• Cwmamman
• Llanybydder
• Kidwelly
• Cross Hands

3.14 This 2^nd Deposit Plan also reflects the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Scoping Report^[25] giving full and careful consideration of all the relevant factors it identified. As we continue the process of preparing the Plan, the SA, and the requirements for producing the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) will help us in developing the LDP in a way which ensures it takes on board those sustainability and environmental values.

3.15 Such contextual changes, the findings of the Review Report and changes in evidence have proved integral in informing how the Revised Plan is prepared, and its direction both strategically through Preferred Strategy, but also at a detailed policy level within this 2^nd Deposit Plan.

3.16 Extensive work and liaison has, and is, being undertaken to build and raise awareness and communication with a wide range of organisations and individuals. The information, issues and evidence emerging from such communications has been invaluable in the work undertaken to date and will continue in ensuring the preparation of the LDP is as informed and consensual as possible.

^[18] Planning Policy Wales: Edition 11 https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2021-02/planning-policy-wales-edition-11_0.pdf

^[19] https://gov.wales/technical-advice-notes

^[20] To be adopted, a Local Development Plan must be determined 'sound' by the examination Inspector (section 64 of the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act). Tests of soundness and checks are identified in Planning Policy Wales Edition 11 and the Approved Revised LDP Delivery Agreement.

^[21] https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2021-02/future-wales-the-national-plan-2040.pdf

^[22] Carmarthenshire Well-being Plan: The Carmarthenshire We Want – 2018 - 2023

^[23] The 15 Well-being Objectives are defined within – Moving Forward in Carmarthenshire: The Council's New Corporate Strategy 2018 – 2023https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-democracy/strategies-and-plans/corporate-strategy-2018-2023/

^[24] Moving Rural Carmarthenshire Forward (June 2019): Report and Recommendations of the Carmarthenshire Rural Affairs Task Group. https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-democracy/strategies-and-plans/moving-rural-carmarthenshire-forward/

^[25] https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/planning/local-development-plan-2018-2033/sustainability-appraisal-and-habitats-regulations-assessment/#.YqM4-ajMKUk