The formal adoption of the Powys Local Development Plan (LDP) will provide clarity and direction on future planning in the area, according to a local architect.
Powys County Council has been without an LDP since the previous one ran out in 2016, with no formal policy in place since then. The LDP sets out planning policy and identifies how land in the county is used for residential, economic and social development, allocating land to specific needs.
The new LDP sets out plans for 4,500 new homes in the county by 2026.
An inspector had been appointed to consider the original draft LDP and, following an inquiry last, year several recommendations have been made which the county council has accepted.
“The adoption of the LDP provides clarity and direction for planners, landowners, developers and others involved in planning in Powys. It has been a long time coming, but now, finally, we can see county-wide where targeted and appropriate developments can take place,” said Doug Hughes of building design and planning consultancy, Hughes Architects.
“It’s important for everyone involved in planning, including the communities where such developments are needed, to have criteria set out that commits to bringing forward the required number of homes needed in Powys over the next eight years, along with key commercial and industrial sites.
“We are working with a number of developers on small and large developments and the adoption of the LDP allows us to move forward with confidence on identifying more opportunities to help ensure the required supply of new private and social housing.”
Hughes Architects, which has offices in Newtown, Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Cardiff, has worked with a number of private developers, housing associations and local authorities to identify land and bring forward a range of housing schemes in the area.
There is now a six-week period to allow possible challenges to be made to the validity of the LDP in accordance with Section 113 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Subject to there being no challenges, the LDP will be fully adopted and implemented in May.
This means planning applications for residential, commercial, and industrial properties must meet the guidelines set out in the LDP, including clearly defined areas and strategic sites where such development can take place.
Cllr Martin Weale, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning, said: “The Plan sets out a clear and strong strategy for meeting the future needs of the county’s communities over the next decade. By focussing development on our market towns and largest villages, it provides the direction and certainty to support investment and enable economic opportunities to be seized, to grow and support viable service centres and for housing development to accommodate our growing and changing household needs.”
The plan was prepared in accordance with the Delivery Agreement (revised in 2015) and included various stages of consultation with stakeholders and the public. It has been subject to scrutiny by an independent Planning Inspector at public examination which included public Hearing Sessions during 2017 and early 2018.
