Deposit LDP

2. What is the Deposit Plan?

2.1 This Deposit Revised LDP is part of a set of documents which we are required to prepare in the process of producing the Revised LDP for Carmarthenshire. It represents an integral stage in preparing the Development Plan for Carmarthenshire and follows the publication of the Delivery Agreement as approved by the Welsh Government on the 28^th June 2018^[3], and the Pre-Deposit Preferred Strategy published for consultation in December 2018.

2.2 This Deposit LDP takes forward the evidence gathering, stakeholder engagement and Pre-Deposit work undertaken to date, including that contained within the Preferred Strategy and looks to develop on its strategic direction through more detailed land use policies and proposals (including the allocation of land for development).

2.3 The Deposit LDP consists of a written statement detailing its policies and proposals and a proposals map on a geographical base. Its structure and format is broadly as follows:

• Introduction: General background information regarding the Carmarthenshire LDP including outlining the role of the SA/SEA and HRA in the plan-making process.
• Policy Context: Sets out the LDP's alignment with, and regard to National, Regional and Local policy context.
• Key Issues and Drivers: Outlines issues identified in relation to the LDP.
• Vision and Strategic Objectives: Presents the LDP's Vision and accompanying Strategic Objectives conveying the sort of place that it is envisaged Carmarthenshire should become. It is the role of the Strategic Objectives to set the context for the delivery of the vision.
• Strategy and Strategic Policies: Outlines the LDP's strategic direction, which together with the spatial and settlement framework and the strategic policies provides the context for detailed, specific policies.
• Specific Policies: Detailed policies dealing with specific policy areas and providing general development management policies against which all development proposals within the County will be assessed. These policies set out residential, employment and other land use allocations, areas designated for specific protection, and policies (including criteria policies) guiding the use of land and development within the Plan area. They form a firm basis for the rational and consistent consideration of planning applications and appeals. Policies are aligned to the strategic policies and include a reasoned justification.
• Implementation and Monitoring: Identifies and incorporates key targets, details the Plan's performance and measures how it will be monitored.
  Technical and background information providing detail to support the content of the Plan, or to provide information to assist in its interpretation.
• Proposals Map on a Geographical Base - The Proposals Map together with inset maps of specific settlements or development areas identify polices and proposals on a geographical base.

2.4 Further information on the stages in preparing the LDP is available within the Delivery Agreement or on the Council's web-pages.

2.5 This Deposit Plan should be read and considered as a whole having regard to the provisions of Planning Policy Wales and the relevant Technical Advice Notes.

2.6 In preparing this Deposit LDP regard has been had to other spatial and thematic documents and strategies produced at a national and regional level, together with those with a local emphasis. The Plan's preparatory process recognised the importance attached to corporate compatibility and synergy, along with the need to consider the relationship between the LDP and the Well-being Plan^[4]. The LDP is also integral to the Council's Corporate Strategy^[5].

2.7 A Sustainability Appraisal of the Deposit LDP has been published as a separate document along with the Habitat Regulations Assessment Report. Both these documents are available for consultation with comments welcomed on their content. Further information on these is as follows:

Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA)

2.8 The undertaking of the SA/SEA is an integral part of LDP preparation and is mandatory under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The SA/SEA has considered the LDP's social and economic effects as well as the environmental aspects considering range of factors including Heath (inc. Mental Health) and the Welsh language.

In accordance with the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC) and as part of the LDP's preparatory process, the Authority is required to undertake a formal environmental assessment of plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment.

2.9 The SA/SEA has facilitated a rigorous examination of the sustainability issues, challenges and opportunities (including environmental problems as required by the SEA Directive) facing Carmarthenshire. In doing so, it is interwoven into the preparation of this LDP and was central to the development of the Issues and Objectives, as well as the identification of a strategy and to the LDP.

2.10 The key stages in the preparation of the SA/SEA can be viewed here.

Habitat Regulations Assessment

2.11 In accordance with European Directive 92/43/EEC (The Habitats Directive) competent authorities (in this case the Council) are required to undertake an Appropriate Assessment when a land use plan, either alone, or in combination with the effects of other plans or projects, is likely to have a significant effect on one or more European designated sites.

2.12 In preparing this LDP, the Council has endeavoured to adapt the Plan to ensure that the integrity of the European Designated sites would not be adversely affected. The Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) covers the following:

• Determining likely significant effects of a development plan on European Sites where applicable;
• Scoping which policies/plans require Appropriate Assessment and how it will be carried out;
• Undertaking, where necessary, the Appropriate Assessment; and,
• Applying the "site integrity test" to determine whether development plans or elements within them have any alternative solutions or if there are imperative reasons for pursuing a development in the public interest.

2.13 The HRA is prepared in parallel with the LDP as an integrated and iterative process. It plays an important role in the formulation of the LDP and its policies and provisions. In this respect, the LDP presents policies and proposals which ensure that the requirements of the regulations are satisfied, and that the integrity of the European Designated sites are not adversely affected.

2.14 The key stages in the preparation of the HRA can be viewed here.

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