VALE OF GLAMORGAN DEPOSIT REPLACEMENT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF CATESBY ESTATES

This response to the consultation on the Vale of Glamorgan Council (‘VoGC’) Deposit Replacement Local Development Plan (‘RLDP’) is submitted by Turley on behalf of Catesby Estates (‘Catesby’). It sets out Catesby’s comments on the Vale of Glamorgan Deposit Replacement LDP published for consultation on 28th January 2026.

Catesby control a significant amount of land at, and surrounding Llandow Airfield, and sought promotion (previously promoted by L&Q Estates prior to its acquisition by Catesby) of the site during the call for Candidate Sites (Site ID Ref: 448). The Stage 2 Candidate Site Register confirms that the site was not considered suitable for further consideration by VoGC. This was primarily due to its location outside of existing settlement boundaries and the scale of dwellings/services proposed. It was concluded that the scale of development proposed could be considered a new settlement, which should only be proposed as part of a joint LDP, an SDP or Future Wales.

Catesby acknowledges that promotion of a site of this scale falls outside the scope of the RDLP. The site will be promoted through the emerging South East Wales Strategic Development Plan in due course. Catesby maintains that the site is capable of accommodating major development and that its promotion for strategic scale regeneration is entirely appropriate given its sustainable credentials and the contribution that it can make to the Vale of Glamorgan and wider Cardiff Capital Region. Catesby remains keen to working collaboratively with VoGC to bring forward development at Llandow in the medium to long term and looks forward to continuing the largely positive discussions that have taken place to date.

VISION AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The vision for the Deposit RLDP maintains that, by 2036, VoGC will provide housing growth which responds to the authority’s growing population and caters for all. This should be shaped through successful placemaking, delivering diverse communities and ensuring that the Vale is a healthy and inclusive place for everyone.

VoGC identifies key themes and strategic objectives to deliver the vision of the Deposit RLDP. This includes “ensuring that all new residential developments provide high quality housing that includes the right mix, tenure and type of homes that respond to the changing needs of the Vale’s population”, to address the accommodation needs of all the Vale’s communities (Objective 3 - Homes for All). Objective 4 – Placemaking also seeks for new development to be appropriately located, contribute towards creating active, safe and accessible places, and protect and enhance the character of existing communities.

The provision of a mix of new homes is also crucial in fostering diverse, vibrant and connected communities in line with Objective 7. Consequently, physical, economic and social regeneration are facilitated, reflecting the needs and aspirations of local communities. Vital and vibrant rural communities are also provided through the delivery of growth in sustainable locations and supporting infrastructure.

Catesby broadly SUPPORTS the vision and strategic objectives of the Deposit RLDP to deliver a mix of high-quality new housing which responds to the authority’s growing population, caters for all, and has placemaking at its heart. This new housing should be facilitated across the Vale in a variety of sustainable locations to best serve as many communities as possible.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH STRATEGY

A key part of the Sustainable Growth Strategy for the Deposit RLDP is to deliver a sustainable level of housing growth which accords with the Vale’s position within the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR). Specifically, the Deposit RLDP makes provision for a housing requirement of 7,980 dwellings over the Plan period (526 dwellings per annum). The Deposit RLDP makes clear that this is both deliverable and ambitious, reflecting the Vale’s position in the Future Wales national growth area. Crucially, the housing requirement will be achieved through a range of housing opportunities, to encourage existing residents to live and work in the Vale and encourage inward migration of new residents, at a level commensurate with the CCR.

However, Catesby would suggest that this level of growth is still too low, taking into account the aspirations of Future Wales for the area and the latest population and household projections, which suggest a higher level of need is required for the Vale.
The Sustainable Growth Strategy also seeks for new and existing housing, employment, services and facilities to be co-located to reduce the need to travel. New housing development shall be specifically located in places that are already well served by existing and/or proposed services, facilities and employment opportunities. This includes, where appropriate, those offered by the business parks and industrial estates already established in the Vale. The Strategy also allows for regeneration opportunities on previously developed and under-utilised land.

The Key Diagram (Figure 1) identifies the proposed Strategic Growth Area (SGA), connectivity routes, key locations for future development, the Plan’s hierarchy of settlements and interrelationships with adjoining local authorities.

Figure 1: Key Diagram

Catesby considers that the Minor Rural Settlements dispersed within the ‘Connectivity’ corridor, such as Llandow, should play a supporting role in accommodating housing growth, given their important range of services and facilities that reduce the need to travel. The Sustainable Growth Strategy also allows for small scale affordable housing led developments in Minor Rural Settlements, where appropriate.

Noting Llandow’s accessible location and proximity to existing and emerging strategic employment opportunities, Catesby broadly SUPPORTS the Sustainable Growth Strategy insofar as seeking to achieve the housing requirement through a range of housing opportunities. This includes the co-locating of housing and employment growth, with a focus on established business parks and industrial estates.

Paragraph 5.14 notes that “where appropriate, the broad principle is that the spatial strategy should look to ensure that new housing is in places where employment opportunities already exist or are proposed.” Catesby supports this principle, noting that the Llandow Airfield site offers the potential to deliver co-located residential and employment opportunities at scale, as identified within the promotion document submitted in support of its response to the call for Candidate Sites. This will remain a key aspiration of the site’s future promotion via the emerging SDP.

However, Catesby reiterates that the housing requirement for the Vale should be higher, accounting for the aspirations of Future Wales for the area and the latest population and household projections. A more ambitious Growth Strategy is needed to accommodate this increased housing requirement.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

Policy SP1 - Sustainable Growth Strategy reiterates that the Plan will deliver 7,890 dwellings by 2036, including a minimum of 3,070 affordable homes. Policy SP1 also sets out that, outside of the Strategic Growth Areas, the allocation of new sites will be limited to small-scale affordable housing led sites.

In order to ensure that the minimum target figure is met, it is important that the Plan identifies a sufficient number of sites / housing allocations to meet both the short and longer term development needs. As previously stated, Catesby SUPPORTS the overall growth strategy across the Vale of Glamorgan contained in the Deposit RLDP. However, it is questioned whether or not there is sufficient land allocated to deliver the growth required.

Of the overall housing target of 7,890 dwellings, approximately half of these are to be delivered via rolled forward allocations and extant consents. Whilst some such sites can be expected to come forward, Catesby would caution against the over-reliance on delivery of historically allocated sites.

Catesby suggests that VoGC considers the inclusion of additional sites to deliver the predicted growth strategy identified in the RLDP. This will strengthen the land supply position ensuring a robust RLDP can be adopted which has the ability to ensure the delivery of the necessary growth. Catesby supports growth along the ‘Connectivity’ corridor, particularly in Minor Rural Settlements such as Llandow to assist with this.

Policy SP2 – Settlement Hierarchy broadly distributes development in line with the hierarchy of settlements, reflecting the role and function of places and directing growth to locations that will provide the greatest opportunities for delivering housing to meet affordable needs, community infrastructure and enhanced sustainable transport provision. Llandow is identified as a Minor Rural Settlement, new development associated with which should be mainly limited to infill opportunities and small-scale affordable housing led schemes (sites of up to 25 dwellings with a minimum of 50% affordable provision).

Catesby would suggest that specific sites in and around all settlement types may be suitable for a greater level of development than that suggested by the settlement hierarchy, and these should be explored accordingly. As part of this, Catesby SUPPORTS the recognition in the Policy Framework that the existing services and facilities in and around the Minor Rural Settlements should be safeguarded, supported and enhanced, and that in order to do this, growth should still be balanced in a way which supports these rural communities (Paras 6.16 and 6.17).

Policy SP3 – Development in the Countryside is clear that development will only be permitted in the countryside where it falls within one of the specified uses. This only includes Affordable Housing Exception Sites in respect of housing development. Catesby suggests that further development sites are required across the Vale in order to meet the Council’s housing requirement, which should consider locations within the countryside where appropriate.

Catesby reiterates that the co-location of housing with existing infrastructure and facilities will be crucial to achieving the overall Growth Strategy of the RLDP. Development in and adjacent to Minor Rural Settlements is also key to this, especially those located in proximity to the ‘Connectivity’ corridor on the Key Diagram.

Catesby SUPPORTS development within these locations, particularly at Llandow. This is key in order for the Vale of Glamorgan to achieve part of its overarching vision, which states that “growth within rural settlements has provided for the needs of residents and supports balanced multi-generational communities that contribute to the vibrancy of the rural area”.

SUMMARY

We trust that the above representations can be considered duly made and look forward to receiving confirmation accordingly. Catesby welcomes the opportunity to comment further as the RLDP progresses through to adoption. Catesby looks forward to engaging with the Council over the months ahead to continue a dialogue regarding the future delivery of development at Llandow. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below.