Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
Vale of Glamorgan Council

The wording of Policy SP16 must therefore be amended to acknowledge that the above list will apply to “All development proposals, where possible...”

The term “maximising” should also be removed entirely from Policy SP16 as the term is imprecise. Proposals should be encouraged to be efficient but to require demonstration of maximisation could also lead to viability issues.

The proposed amendment will ensure that Policy SP16 will meet the third test of soundness (Will the Plan deliver?).

It is observed that the wording of Policy SP16 states that “all development proposals” should address the causes of climate change to demonstrate policy compliance. However, it is considered that it would not be feasible or even possible to provide all of the information required by Policy SP16 at the outline planning application state and that some of the information requirements of Policy SP16 can only be expected to be provided at detailed (reserved matters/full) planning application stage. Furthermore, care needs to be taken to ensure that any additional decarbonisation policy aspirations, especially for affordable housing-led schemes, are carefully considered in terms of overall viability.

It is clear that there are some requirements in Policy SP16 that will be unachievable in many new residential developments, for example, requirements 7 relating to the optimisation of energy supply and distribution options, including provision of district heat networks.