Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
Vale of Glamorgan Council

The proposed amendment to the settlement boundary at Wick to include land at Heol Fain (paragraph 4.19) appears to be primarily justified on the basis of incorporating the RLDP housing allocation itself, rather than reflecting the logical extent of the existing settlement. The Settlement Boundary Review states that the boundary change is to facilitate the RLDP allocation at this location. This approach risks creating a circular justification whereby the site is brought within the settlement boundary specifically to accommodate the proposed allocation, which may then appear more acceptable because it lies within the settlement boundary. Settlement boundaries are intended to reflect the established built form and defensible limits of settlements, separating urban areas from the open countryside. Extending the boundary primarily to accommodate a proposed development site therefore risks undermining the purpose of the boundary and may give a misleading impression that the site forms part of the natural settlement envelope. This approach risks predetermining the suitability of the site through the boundary review process rather than assessing the allocation on its planning merits.