I would like to express my objection to development of the proposed Bryn Melin site 370.

Environmentally I feel this is an inappropriate area to develop. The site (and adjoining sites 475/514) are within the Thaw valley designated special landscape area which should be protected.
Development here would destroy the character of the area and significantly impact negatively on the biodiversity and the natural lived experience of the people within Cowbridge. This is against the vale of Glamorgan’s goals to respect landscape a resource, respect scenic quality of an area, respect unspoilt character and integrity, respect the sense of place created by landscape and to conserve these attributes. The valley and the fields, the view, the sense of open space, the footpaths that people can use to walk and enjoy being in nature right next the Cowbridge town are all integral to the sense of character and place of Cowbridge. This section of the valley currently stands alone as a natural vista, and does not have encroachment of suburban development. It is enjoyed by so many. You stand in it and look out, you walk through it, and you can be entirely in the countryside. This is a significant characteristic of a rural town such as Cowbridge and losing this here will represent suburban creep and destruction of this natural character. These attributes would be ruined by development here. I believe other proposed sites such as sites 455 and 367 are better suited to development as these areas are already partially suburbanised and do not have the unspoilt rural views/space/character that the bryn melin and associated sites do.

Ultimately, there is no development currently on the Bryn Melin site, whereas there is already some development within the area of the sites 455 and 367.

Functionally I also have significant concerns about development of Bryn Melin site 370 and the adjoining sites 475 and 514. The transport infrastructure is not supportive of housing here. The St Athan road is small, windy, dangerous with no footpath. There is no public transport within easy walking distance. Amenities are also not within safe or easy walking distance and will necessitate people driving into Cowbridge. This is completely against the Vale’s own goals and ideation when it comes to sustainable and appropriate development. Conversely sites 455 and 367 are well connected with safe easy walking routes into the town centre, and access to public transport.

The site at Bryn Melin is also very steep which environmentally and socially is not a good characteristic for development. The slope is 12% and there is poor access. Again, the sites proposed at 455 and 367 appear more suitable for development with better developed access to the local amenities.

Cowbridge Town Council unanimously rejected the inclusion of Site 370 in the RLDP on 24/02/2026
As outlined in the Cowbridge Placemaking Plan, local identity, sustainable growth, and protection/enhancement of town character, public spaces and the town-edge environment is incredibly important.
Building on these sites in this unspoilt valley is contrary to these principles and undermines local placemaking desires. There must be sites that are more coherent with the ideals and values of the area?

I have concerns over the inclusion of certain candidate sites:

367-my concern is this site is on the side of a hill where water run-off if a large housing development went ahead could adversely affect the road below.
Also, my understanding is that it would be close vicinity to an iron age fort, which is a significance.

Sites 438 and 440 would put tremendous pressure onto the barely adequate road infrastructure in that area and also create a hazard for traffic pulling out onto the B4270 at the cross Inn. It would also my view be an unnecessary intrusion into the open countryside.

Site 455, again I think would put a lot of pressure on the road infrastructure and traffic lights at Cowbridge and again be an unnecessary intrusion into the open countryside. And would adversely affect the aesthetics of the gateway to Cowbridge which partly gives the town so much of its charm!

I think a very sensible inclusion is 448 the airfield and brownfield site at Llandow. My understanding is that with a little effort a new rail link could be established for this site which would be very sensible with regard to taking pressure from the road network.

Please let me know if it is not acceptable for me to comment on a number of sites in one email and I will gladly send other emails for each site individually.

We therefore request that Land at Primrose Hill (Candidate Site ID: 455) is allocated for housing development. The site is located in one of the most sustainable settlements in the settlement hierarchy, Cowbridge, which is also at the top of the retail, commercial and service centre hierarchy in Policy SP11. Cowbridge has a serious lack of allocated land for housing development and major land bank sites in the RLDP as drafted.

In order for Cowbridge to match its status in the hierarchies of Policy SP2 and SP11, the RLDP needs to include Land at Primrose Hill for allocation would deliver up to 220 homes during the RLDP period. Land at Primrose Hill is within easy reach of the town centre and in close proximity to excellent commercial, educational, community and recreational facilities and services. The site is well positioned to be accessed via the local highway network, which links to both Cardiff, Penarth and Bridgend via regular bus services from bus stops adjacent to the site.

The inclusion of Cowbridge as Service Centre Settlement within the Strategic Growth Area Settlement Hierarchy in Policy SP2 is endorsed. Cowbridge comprises a sustainable self-contained settlement with regards to access to services such as primary and secondary schools, shops including supermarkets, medical services at the GP surgery and pharmacy, sports activities including a leisure centre, a library and places of worship. Cowbridge has excellent connections to the A48 with regular bus services providing access to Cardiff, Porthcawl and Llantwit Major.

The Service Centre Settlements are the middle-tier in Policy SP2 and as well as Cowbridge, include Llantwit Major and Penarth. The Key Settlement of Barry being the top-tier and the Primary Settlements of Rhoose, St Athan, Sully, Llandough (Penarth) and Dinas Powys being categorised as the lower-tier, below Cowbridge.

Policy SP2 states that Service Centre Settlements “are important settlements that offer a range of services and facilities. Serving the needs of their residents, they also act as important hubs for those living in nearby smaller settlements. Future growth will support this role where the level of development will meet the local needs of the area.”

Policy HG1 sets out the housing allocations to meet the identified housing requirement set out in Policy SP6. HG1 allocates sites for a total of 3,398 dwellings across Key Sites and Housing Allocations. Of the 3,398 units:

• Key Settlement (tier 1) = 686 (20.2%)

• Service Centres (tier 2) = 340 (10%)

• Primary Settlements (tier 3) = 2,372 (69.8%)

It is clear that the allocations in Policy HG1 do not reflect the proposed settlement hierarchy with an under representation of allocations in the second tier Service Centre Settlements. There are only two allocations in Service Centre Settlements: HG1(5) at Llantwit Major for 235 units and HG1(6) at Cowbridge for 105 units.

A review by settlement further highlights the under provision of allocations and major land bank sites at Cowbridge compared to other higher order settlements:

Tier 1 Barry – 686

Tier 2 Cowbridge – 105
Llantwit Major – 475
Penarth – 576

Tier 3 Rhoose – 859
St Athan – 1,263
Sully – 175
Llandough – 133
Dinas Powys – 250

It is evident that there are fewer allocations made to Cowbridge than any other higher order settlement and significantly less than many of the tier 3 settlements. A review of the Housing Land Supply document BP9A highlights that there is only planning permission for 203 dwellings in Cowbridge that were not started as of April 2025. The case cannot be made that there is an existing unimplemented land bank to meet the needs of this settlement.

Furthermore, Paragraph 3.5 of the Local Housing Market Assessment (2023) sets out that “The 2021 LHMA indicated that the existing backlog of need is most acute from people on the housing waiting list within Barry, Penarth/Llandough, Llantwit Major, Cowbridge, Dinas Powys, Rhoose, Wenvoe and St Athan although there are a significant number of people on the waiting list across all areas of the Vale.”

Having only one allocation, and no major land bank sites at Cowbridge does not reflect the importance of Cowbridge as a Service Centre Settlement. The failure to make significant new allocations in this Tier 2 settlement undermines the ability of this important settlement to meet its housing needs including affordable needs.

Policy HG1 apportions only 105 dwellings (or only 1.3% of the housing requirement as set out in Policy SP1) to one of only three second tier settlements. Thus, the number of units allocated to Cowbridge does not align with the Settlement Hierarchy presented in Policy SP2. As explained in our representations to Policy SP1 and SP6 above, a more ambitious housing requirement is needed in the VoG.

It is therefore evident that in order for the RLDP to meet the third test of soundness (Will the Plan deliver?), Cowbridge needs additional housing allocations to ensure that housing is delivered at a scale commensurate to the settlement hierarchy in Policy SP2 and to achieve the RLDP Growth Strategy which commits to housing growth that accords with the Vale’s position within the Cardiff Capital Region.

Land at Primrose Hill (with a capacity of up to 220 dwellings) is available, with limited physical and environmental constraints, to assist with the much-needed increased delivery of housing at Cowbridge during this RLDP period.

I would like to object to the development of the Bryn Melin field (site 370, and adjoining sites 475 and 514)
This site is not as well suited as alternative sites (such as 455 and 367), and directly contravenes the placemaking goals and priorities of the area.
The site is within the thaw valley designated special landscape area and has uninterrupted views and access to nature. There is currently no development/suburban creep in this vicinity and developing here would destroy that. Other alternative sites (eg 455 and 367) appear better suited as they are already adjacent to suburban sprawl.
I am also particularly interested in astronomy. This area of Cowbridge, as it is a valley with no development, has significantly less light pollution than other more suburbanised areas. This is a valuable and a relatively rare resource so close to a town. Development here would destroy this.
I also do not feel the site is appropriate for a housing development. The site itself is very steep and the St Athan road is steep, narrow, with blind bends and no footpaths and no public transport. There is no easily accessible local access to jobs/amenities. Other sites (e.g 455 and 367) seem better suited to development as they have better access/transport links and already have adjacent suburban sprawl.
Please retain this site within open countryside and protect it for people to enjoy, for the wildlife and diversity that currently lives there, and to maintain the character of the area.

I am writing regarding the current consultation for the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP), specifically the candidate sites proposed for housing development in the Rural Vale area near Cowbridge.

I would like to formally express my strong concern about the inclusion of several greenfield sites for large-scale housing development. In particular, I am referring to candidate sites 367 (land on the bank approaching Cowbridge), 438 and 440 (between Cross Inn and Llanblethian), and 455 (Primrose Hill).

These locations form part of the rural landscape that defines the character of the Vale of Glamorgan and the setting of Cowbridge. Large housing estates on these greenfield sites would risk causing permanent damage to the countryside, the natural environment, and the historic rural character that makes this area unique.

The Rural Vale is valued for its open farmland, biodiversity, and scenic views. Development on this scale would place significant pressure on local infrastructure, increase traffic on already limited rural roads, and contribute to the gradual erosion of the countryside surrounding the town.

Where housing development is required, priority should instead be given to brownfield sites and previously developed land. For this reason, I believe that the potential redevelopment of site 448 at Llandow Airfield is a far more appropriate option, as it makes use of existing developed land rather than sacrificing valuable greenfield countryside.

I respectfully urge the Council to reconsider the inclusion of these greenfield sites in the RLDP and to prioritise sustainable development that protects the Rural Vale's landscape, environment, and heritage.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this representation as part of the consultation process.