Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
Vale of Glamorgan Council

In order for Policy SP6 to meet the third test of soundness (Will the plan deliver?), it is evident that additional sites will need to be allocated and existing allocated sites will need to be expanded to accommodate further dwelling numbers. Allocation HG4(1) is potentially capable of delivering greater than the 25 dwellings currently allocated.

The 8,660 provision equates to a flexibility allowance of 9.8% against the targeted delivery of 7,890 set out in Policy SP1. Even with this flexibility allowance in place, this is still 10.0% lower than the predicted household increase of 9,623 in the Vale of Glamorgan based on Welsh Government’s 2022-based household projections for VoG over the RLDP period.

BDWR endorses the incorporation of a flexibility allowance, as is required by paragraph 5.59 of the Development Plans Manual (2020). However, it is considered that the flexibility allowance needs to be increased to a minimum of 15-20% to ensure that the ambitious anticipated annual build rate of between 885-906 dpa from 2027/28 to 2030/31 can be achieved. Whilst we note that the Development Management Manual references a starting point of 10% we note that other local authorities have utilised a higher percentage in draft plans. This includes Swansea (20%) and Monmouthshire (15%).