Testun llawn:
I am writing to submit a formal objection to the proposed allocation of Site ID 404, which designates land adjacent to Heol Fain, Wick for the development of 50 dwellings within the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP).
The proposed development would fundamentally alter the character of a rural settlement currently defined by agricultural land and open green spaces. The site lies within a green belt area, and its development at this scale is incompatible with the existing rural landscape. Expansion of this nature is more appropriately directed toward larger, better-connected settlements within the county.
Wick is not equipped to support further development of this scale. Key issues include:
- No medical facilities within the village; residents rely on nearby towns.
- Limited retail provision, with only one small shop serving the community.
- A single primary school, with no evidence that additional capacity has been assessed or planned for.
The proposal does not demonstrate how these deficiencies would be addressed, nor does it provide evidence of sustainable long-term service provision.
Transport sustainability is a central criterion of Welsh Government Planning Policy (Edition 12). This site fails to meet those requirements:
- Public transport is limited, with only one bus per hour and no direct service to Cowbridge, where the nearest GP surgeries are located.
- There is no rail travel.
- No active travel or safe pedestrian routes support movement for those without vehicles.
- Increased reliance on private cars contradicts both national policy and the Vale of Glamorgan’s sustainable growth objectives (RLDP – Nov 2023, p55, section 6.6).
The rural Vale relies on emergency services configured for a dispersed population:
- South Wales Police response teams are primarily based in Barry, the local station at Llantwit Major supports the local community policing function which is not 24/7.
- South Wales Fire and Rescue provision is via a retained station in Llantwit Major.
- Wales Ambulance Service operates across a wide rural area.
Additional housing will place further strain on these services without corresponding investment or planning evidence.
The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires public bodies to plan sustainably for social, cultural, environmental and economic well‑being. This proposal:
- Does not reduce rural isolation.
- Does not provide local employment opportunities.
- Does not meet evidenced local housing needs.
- Fails to protect and enhance the rural landscape.
Accordingly, it also conflicts with the Vale of Glamorgan Well-being Plan 2023–2028 and the principles of Placemaking Wales.
Two access routes have been referenced, both of which are unsuitable:
- St James Road – a privately maintained, unadopted road.
- Increased usage would place unfair maintenance costs on current residents.
- Heol Fain – a narrow, poor-quality single-lane road.
- Its western junction meets a 60mph unlit road, presenting significant safety hazards.
No evidence is provided that safe or sustainable access can be achieved.
The proposed field is currently used for surface water drainage from the nearby St James estate. Development risks:
- Reducing the land’s natural drainage function and the sustainable draining via the reed bed.
- Increasing surface water runoff into a small stream along Heol Fain that regularly exceeds its boundaries in wet weather.
- Creating wider environmental impacts that have not been addressed.
The field is also used informally for recreation—walking, dog walking, and exercise—which would be lost to the community.
The allocation is disproportionate to the size and capacity of the settlement and is not justified within the broader strategic framework of the RLDP.
