Testun llawn:
Aberthin (Site 2299) within the Vale of Glamorgan Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP).
The allocation proposes approximately 25 dwellings as an affordable housing-led development
on greenfield agricultural land forming part of the countryside immediately west of Aberthin.
The allocation is unsound for several independent reasons.
First, the proposal conflicts with the Plan’s spatial strategy.
Aberthin is identified as a Minor Rural Settlement, where development is expected to be limited
in scale and primarily related to local needs. A development of approximately 25 dwellings
would represent around a 14% expansion of the settlement in a single phase, introducing
estate-scale growth into a small rural village with very limited services. This represents a
material step-change inconsistent with the role of such settlements within the hierarchy.
Second, the site is not necessary for delivery of the Plan’s housing strategy.
The RLDP identifies a housing requirement of 7,890 dwellings and housing provision of 8,660
dwellings, creating a surplus of 770 dwellings above the requirement. Removal of HG4(2)
Aberthin would still leave a surplus of 745 dwellings, and even removal of all HG4 rural
affordable-led sites would leave a surplus of 648 dwellings. The allocation is therefore not
required for the Plan to deliver its housing requirement.
Third, the RLDP evidence identifies affordable housing need at a ward level (Cowbridge) rather
than within Aberthin itself, and no evidence has been presented demonstrating a specific locally
arising need within the settlement.
Forth, the site makes only a negligible contribution to affordable housing delivery. The site is
expected to deliver approximately 13 affordable homes, representing only 0.42% of the Plan’s
projected affordable housing delivery of 3,070 homes. The Plan is therefore not materially
dependent on the site to deliver its affordable housing strategy.
Fifth, the site is heavily constrained by flood risk and drainage uncertainty.
Part of the site lies within Flood Zone 3, where highly vulnerable development on greenfield
land is not permitted under Technical Advice Note 15 (TAN15) unless the development is
essential to the Local Development Plan. Given the Plan’s housing surplus, and no identified
local need, the site cannot reasonably be considered essential.
