1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 All Local Authorities in Wales are required to produce a Local Development Plan (LDP) to manage land and development over the long term. This Plan should set out a positive vision for the area and identify where and how development should take place in the future. 

1.2 The existing Vale of Glamorgan LDP was adopted in June 2017 and covers the period 2011-2026. Following the adoption of an LDP, Local Authorities are required to annually monitor the performance of the plan, and after 4 years undertake a review of the plan to consider whether there is a need to update or replace the LDP. A review of the adopted LDP was undertaken in June 2021, which concluded that because of changes to national planning policy and the Council’s ambitious aspirations, such as responding to the climate and nature emergencies, it was necessary to produce a Replacement LDP (RLDP). Work on the RLDP formally commenced in May 2022. 

1.3 The RLDP sets out key strategic objectives which reflect the key issues faced in the Vale of Glamorgan, including:

•    Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change.
•    Improving Mental and Physical Health and Well-being.
•    Homes for All.
•    Placemaking.
•    Protecting and Enhancing the Natural Environment.
•    Embracing Culture and Heritage.
•    Fostering Diverse, Vibrant, and Connected Communities.
•    Promoting Active and Sustainable Travel Choices.
•    Building a Prosperous and Green Economy.
•    Promoting Sustainable Tourism.

1.4 This Deposit Plan has been prepared in accordance with relevant legislation, national, regional and local planning policy and the RLDP’s Preferred Strategy. The Plan is underpinned by an extensive evidence base, to set out a suite of policies and proposals aimed at guiding future development in the Vale of Glamorgan in a sustainable manner. 

1.5 The RLDP Preferred Strategy, which was published for public consultation in December 2023, forms the basis of the Deposit Plan, although there have been refinements to the Vision, Objectives and Strategic policies following representations made during the formal consultation. 

Structure of the RLDP

1.6  The Deposit RLDP comprises a Written Statement (with Appendices), a Proposals Map and a Constraints Map. The structure of the Written Statement is set out below:

• Section 2 - Policy Context sets out the relevant national, regional and local policies, legislation and strategies.
• Section 3 - Key Characteristics provides an overview of the key characteristics of the Vale and the main socio-economic, environmental and cultural issues identified through consultations and analysis of the RLDP evidence base.
• Section 4 - Key Themes, Vision and Objectives identifies the key themes that the plan should address and sets out a long-term spatial Vision to 2036 that will guide policy decisions and objectives to realise the implementation of the Vision, reflecting the key themes.
• Section 5 - Spatial Strategy sets out the Sustainable Growth Strategy for the location of future development and the level of growth proposed to 2036. The Spatial Strategy is illustrated in a Key Diagram.
• Section 6 - Policy Framework identifies the strategic policies, criteria-based development management policies, site specific allocations and designated areas to be protected. These are broadly arranged by topic theme under the key policy headings set out in PPW:  Strategic and Spatial Choices (Placemaking); Active and Social Places; Productive and Enterprising Places, and Distinctive and Natural Places.
• Section 7 - Monitoring Framework identifies how the strategy, objectives, policies and proposals in the plan will be monitored against appropriate indicators and trigger points for action.

How to use this document

1.7 The RLDP should be read as a whole as many of the Plan’s objectives and policies are cross-cutting and interrelated. Decisions on development proposals must have regard to the relevant policies in the Plan and the requirements of National Planning Policy, which is contained in a wide range of policy documents, statements and advice notes published by the Welsh Government. The RLDP does not generally repeat national planning policies as set out in Future Wales, Planning Policy Wales (PPW) and Technical Advice Notes (TANs). However, where appropriate, this document explains where and how national planning policies are translated at the local level.

1.8 In addition to the Written Statement, the RLDP includes a Proposals Map and a Constraints Map. The Proposals Map identifies those areas which have been specifically allocated for development or are subject to protection through relevant policies within the Plan. The Constraints Map is a separate plan to be read alongside the Proposals Map and shows the geographical location and extent of constraints to development that are created by legislation outside of the development plan process, for example Scheduled Monuments, flood risk areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Although this does not form part of the RLDP, regard must be given to the Constraints Map in the consideration of development proposals. The Constraints Map includes designations made by statutory bodies other than the Council and will be updated as necessary.

Integrated Sustainability Appraisal of the Deposit Plan

1.9 In line with statutory requirements the preparation of the Deposit Plan has been subject to and informed by an Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) which fulfils the requirements and legal duties for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Well-being of Future Generations Assessment (WBFGA), Health Impact Assessment (HIA), Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) and Welsh Language Impact Assessment (WLIA).

1.10 The aim of the ISA is to assess the extent to which the emerging planning policies will help to achieve the wider environmental, economic and social objectives of the RLDP. The ISA of the Deposit Plan, prepared by independent consultants, is published as a separate document. The Deposit Plan has also been considered as part of the Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA). Both documents form part of the evidence base for the RLDP and are available on the Council’s website.

1.11 These assessments have been undertaken in an integrated manner and are used as plan-making tools to inform the Deposit Plan, allowing for the environmental, social and economic implications of each component of the Strategy to be scrutinised and for any uncertainties, issues or mitigation requirements identified during the impact assessment processes to be addressed. This iterative process will continue to be an integral part of the Council’s plan preparation of its RLDP.

Other Supporting Documents

1.12 Sitting alongside the Deposit Plan are the background evidence papers that provide key sources of information on a range of topics that have informed the strategy and the Deposit RLDP. These documents have been published separately and are available on the Council’s website. The list of supporting documents is included in Appendix 10.