This is a rural area, and the proposed site is agricultural land that has been used as a green space for many years. There is no public transport locally, the primary school is at full capacity and there are few facilities nearby. Children will want to cross the road to access the park in Fferm Goch but the road is already particularly trouble with very few cars sticking to the 20mph limit - making it often a dangerous place for children.
All this considered, I feel there isn't the capacity or need for housing in such a rural area.

Unacceptable loss of rural landscape, blocking of views to houses in timbers green and green goch

I strongly object to this development. It will cause a permanent loss of rural views from Timbers Green and Fferm Goch, eroding the area's character. The increased traffic on our already congested roads poses a major safety concern. Crucially, the site is a vital habitat; we frequently observe Tawny Owls, Red Kites, hedgehogs, and foxes using the existing hedgerows. This development would result in a devastating loss of biodiversity and the destruction of a functioning ecosystem. Local infrastructure simply cannot sustain this expansion.

The roads around this location aren't suitable to take more traffic. The main road which runs past the school is very high speed (despite it being 20mph) and there have been accidents on the corner of this development and the main road in the past. There must be mitigation put in place if building is to take place.

It looks as though this land wouldn't be used solely for affordable housing which is welcome.

There is no public transport and the site is not reasonably accessible to day-to-day services, such as medical facilities, shops and community facilities.
The proposed expansion of the site goes against the VOG’s objective to reduce the need for travel for VOG residents to meet their daily needs.
The site is in a Special Landscape Area and therefore the proposed development would be contrary to the VOG’s object to protect and enhance the VOG’s historic, built and natural environment.

The site is located in the rural Vale and 7 miles from Cowbridge and 8 miles from Bridgend. The scale of the site is completely out of character with the local area and close by hamlet of Fferm Goch. Anyone living in this location will rely on private cars to get to and from the site for work, shops and everything except the primary school. The nearest small shop is in Pencoed to which there is no public transport. Otherwise it is necessary to drive to Cowbridge or Bridgend or one of the large supermarkets on the edge of Bridgend.

The sites are located in the rural Vale, surrounded by open countryside and 7 miles from Cowbridge and 8 miles from Bridgend. The scale of the site is completely out of character with the local area. Realistically, anyone living in this location will rely on private cars to get to and from the site for work, shops and everything except the primary school, which is full. The nearest small shop is in Pencoed to which there is no public transport. Otherwise it is necessary to drive to Cowbridge or Bridgend or one of the large supermarkets on the edge of Bridgend. Access to the site is via small single lane country roads that are not suited to high volume traffic or emergency services.

The site is located in the rural Vale and 7 miles from Cowbridge and 8 miles from Bridgend. The scale of the site is completely out of character with the local area and close by hamlet of Fferm Goch. Anyone living in this location will rely on private cars to get to and from the site for work, shops and everything except the primary school. The nearest small shop is in Pencoed to which there is no public transport. Otherwise it is necessary to drive to Cowbridge or Bridgend or one of the large supermarkets on the edge of Bridgend.

The site are located in the rural Vale, surrounded by open countryside and 7 miles from Cowbridge and 8 miles from Bridgend. The scale of the site is completely out of character with the local area. Realistically, anyone living in this location will rely on private cars to get to and from the site for work, shops primary school in Llangan. The nearest small shop is in Pencoed to which there is no public transport. Otherwise it is necessary to drive to Cowbridge or Bridgend or one of the large supermarkets on the edge of Bridgend. Access to the site is via small single lane country roads that are not suited to high volume traffic or emergency services. this proposal will impact on the rural nature of the area being opposite to recent housing development it would make the area feel crowded. the traffic from the site would make the busy road even worse. speeding is already a problem there and increased traffic increases the risk of accidents. this site is noted as having historical significance, possibly iron age or earlier. the open nature of that site from history would be impacted negatively.

1. Conflict with the RLDP Spatial Strategy
1.1 The RLDP’s spatial strategy seeks to direct housing growth to sustainable locations, prioritising:
1.1.1 Well-connected settlements;
1.1.2 Locations with good access to services, facilities and employment; and
1.1.3 Development that reinforces, rather than undermines, settlement form.
1.2 The Site:
1.2.1 Is poorly related to the existing settlement patterns;
1.2.2 Represents an outward expansion that risks fragmented or dispersed growth; and
1.2.3 Does not clearly demonstrate how development would integrate with the existing built form in a manner consistent with the Plan’s strategy.
1.3 The location of the site therefore undermines the RLDP’s stated approach to sustainable growth and settlement hierarchy.

2. Unsustainable location and transport accessibility
2.1 Planning Policy Wales requires development to minimise the need to travel and to prioritise active travel and sustainable transport.
2.2 In respect of the Site:
2.2.1 There is insufficient evidence that the site is located within convenient walking distance of everyday services and facilities;
2.2.2 Public transport is essentially non-existent; and
2.2.3 Development would be likely to result in increased reliance on private car travel, contrary to the national policy and the VOG’s climate objectives.
2.3 The RLDP evidence base does not robustly demonstrate that these sites can support genuine modal shift or deliver sustainable travel patterns.

3. Landscape, countryside and settlement character
3.1 The VOG is characterised by a sensitive and distinctive landscape, with clear settlement edges and areas of open countryside, contributing to local character.
3.2 The allocation of the Site would:
3.2.1 Result in the loss of undeveloped land that performs an important landscape and/ or settlement function;
3.2.2 Risk erosion of settlement identity through incremental outward expansion; and
3.2.3 Cause harm to the visual and rural setting of affected communities.
3.3 Where sites lie within or adjacent to Special Landscape Areas of valued countryside, national and local policy requires strong justification. That justification has not been demonstrated.

4. Failure to deliver high-quality placemaking
4.1 Placemaking is identified in the RLDP as a central objective. However, the Site raises significant concerns in this regard:
4.1.1 The location and constraints risk development that is peripheral, car-dominated and poorly integrated;
4.1.2 Opportunities to create walkable neighbourhoods with a strong sense of place appear limited; and
4.1.3 There is a real risk that development would result in standardised estate layouts, rather than distinctive, locally responsive places.
4.2 The evidence does not show that development on these sites could achieve the quality of placemaking required by the national policy and RLDP.

5. Infrastructure capacity and deliverability
5.1 For the Site to be soundly allocated, the VOG must demonstrate that they it is deliverable within the plan period and supported by appropriate infrastructure.
5.2 In relation to the Site:
5.2.1 There is insufficient clarity regarding highway capacity, safe access and mitigation;
5.2.2 Local services and facilities are already under pressure, with no firm delivery strategy identified;
5.2.3 The infrastructure implication of allocating multiple sites in proximity have not been adequately addressed (as there are other candidate sites close by, namely 398, 402, 403, 468, 2671, 4057 & 4068).
5.3 As such, the effectiveness and deliverability of the allocation is not demonstrated.

6. Failure to justify the need for the Site
6.1 The RLDP must show that the Site allocation is necessary, having regard to reasonable alternatives.
6.2 The evidence does not demonstrate that:
6.2.1 More suitable or less sensitive sites have been exhausted;
6.2.2 Previous development land opportunities have been prioritised to the extent required by national policy; or
6.2.3 The Site is required to meet identified housing need.
6.3 Without such justification, the allocation of the Site fails the tests of soundness.

7. Cumulative impact
7.1 When considered collectively with other candidate sites in close proximity to the Site (namely candidate sites 398, 402, 403, 468, 2671, 4057 & 4068), allocation of the Site would result in:
7.1.1 Excessive growth pressure on certain settlements;
7.1.2 Incremental erosion of countryside and landscape character; and
7.1.3 Development that is inconsistent with a plan-led, sustainable strategy.
7.2 The cumulative impacts have not been adequately assessed or addressed.

8. Conclusion
8.1 For the reasons set out above, the Site is:
8.1.1 Unsustainably located;
8.1.2 Likely to cause unacceptable harm to landscape and settlement character;
8.1.3 Inadequately supported by infrastructure and deliverability evidence; and
8.1.4 Not justified by housing need or the consideration of alternatives.
8.2 The Site should therefore be removed from the RLDP, or the Plan found unsound insofar as it relies upon its allocation.