Sustainable Placemaking in Conwy

Priority Issues

Implications for the RLDP

Creating Sustainable Places:

• As per the Key Planning Principles and Sustainable Placemaking Outcomes there is a need to ensure that the Conwy RLDP facilitates sustainable places, social inclusion and wellbeing for all.

The RLDP will need to embrace the sustainable principles and concept of placemaking to deliver growth and development in a sustainable manner. Future growth levels and development should take place in sustainable and accessible locations, seeks to promote good design and healthier places, protect Welsh language and is supported by the necessary social, environmental, cultural and economic infrastructure to create great places.

It is essential for the RLDP to plan for adequate and efficient infrastructure, including services such as education and health facilities along with transport, water supply, sewers, sustainable waste management, electricity and gas and telecommunications which are crucial for economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Healthy Places, Equality and Wellbeing:

• There is a need to address specific health and wellbeing issues as identified in the Conwy and Denbighshire Wellbeing Plan, including physical and mental health, social wellbeing and community safety. Overall, CCBC residents are performing slightly better than average in Wales for health indicators such as obesity, mental illness and alcohol consumption. However, consistency of physical exercise and alcohol specific hospital admissions are considerably worse than the rest of Wales.
• Some parts of the CCBC area, especially in the Northern Coastal urban communities, are among the most deprived areas of Wales, with low levels of economic activity and access to facilities and services, particularly for children, young people and elderly populations. Conversely, the rural south of CCBC has some of the least deprived communities in Wales.

There is a need to protect and improve access to healthcare services and facilities, reduce health inequalities and improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of communities in Conwy. The RLDP will need to ensure that it facilitates and encourages active travel, physical recreation, green infrastructure and increase the accessibility and quality of open space provision.

There is a need to reduce poverty and inequality, tackle social exclusion and promote community cohesion, including through enhancing access to community facilities. There is a need to ensure that the communities are in close proximity to existing community facilities, public services and key amenities.

Good Design, the Built Environment and Placemaking:

• There is a need enhance design quality to create great places for people in Conwy, which is important given the mix of settlement types and predominantly rural character of the CCBC area.

To achieve sustainable development in the RLDP, design must go beyond aesthetics and include the social, economic, environmental, cultural aspects of the development, including how space is used, how buildings and the public realm support this use, as well as its construction, operation, management, and its relationship with the surroundings area.

The RLDP needs to promote high quality architecture and design which strengthens local distinctiveness and fosters a sense of place. Design and placemaking issues will be of relevance to some RLDP components (e.g. design related policies and site allocations).

Welsh Language:

• CCBC's Welsh Language Strategy commits the Council to treating Welsh and English on an equal basis when carrying out public business. CCBC is additionally dedicated to helping raise the profile of the Welsh language and culture to residents and employees. There is a need to safeguard and support the increased use of the Welsh language amongst the resident population of the CCBC area.

The RLDP should recognise the value of language and include policy provisions to support growth in the use of the Welsh language. The scale and location of housing development, employment and community facilities can all impact on the Welsh language.

Population and Creating Sustainable Places:

• Retaining young people within our area is a major issue, as the population estimates for Conwy County Borough show a big gap in the age structure between the ages of around 18 to 40. This is the age group which is most likely to be economically and socially mobile, seeking work, education and other social opportunities outside the area.
• Conwy has an aging population. The age structure of the County Borough is significantly older than that for Wales with 27.2% of the population aged 65 and over, which places pressure on public and social services. By the mid-2030s (prior to the end of the Plan Period), Conwy will see a decrease in the older age groups (particularly aged 75+).

The RLDP will need to ensure that it promotes a balanced age structure and provides the necessary housing, employment and infrastructure to encourage economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being for all. Retention of the younger population is a critical matter for the plan in addition to encouraging the younger population to return to the area.

The RLDP will need to plan for changes in population but also ensure that the appropriate level of public and social services is planned for to support an ageing population.

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources:

• The Natural Resources Policy and Area Statements are a key piece of evidence which must be taken into account in development plan preparation.

The RLDP will need to set out how:

• it contributes to improving the resilience of ecosystems and ecological networks;
• halts and reverses the loss of biodiversity;
• maintains and enhances green infrastructure based on seeking multiple ecosystem benefits and solutions;
• ensures resilient locational choices for infrastructure and built development, taking into account water supplies, water quality and reducing, wherever possible, air and noise pollution and environmental risks, such as those posed by flood risk, coastal change, land contamination and instability;
• takes actions to move towards a more circular economy in Wales; and
• facilitates the move towards decarbonisation of the economy.

Placemaking in Rural Areas:

• Being a predominantly rural area, Conwy's countryside is a dynamic and multi-purpose resource. It must be conserved and, where possible, enhanced for the sake of its ecological, geological, physiographic, historical, archaeological, cultural and agricultural value and for its landscape and natural resources.

The RLDP needs to conserve these attributes balanced against the economic, social and recreational needs of local communities and visitors. In rural areas most new development should be located in settlements which have relatively good accessibility by non-car modes when compared to the rural area as a whole. The RLDP will need to consider these issues in progressing the Vision, Objectives and Growth Strategy.

Previously Developed Land (PDL), Constrained Land and Creating Sustainable Places:

• There is a lack of PDL capacity to accommodate growth over the Plan Period, which places pressure on the need for greenfield lands. Some settlements along the coastal corridor are also highly constrained, mainly resulting from topography to the south, flood risk to the north and highways capacity, which impacts of the ability of those communities to facilitate growth, regenerate and create sustainable places.

The RLDP needs to ensure that future growth levels and development takes place in sustainable and accessible locations, seeks to promote good design and healthier places, protects Welsh language and is supported by the necessary social, environmental, cultural and economic infrastructure. In developing the spatial strategy for the RLDP, there is a need to prioritise the use of suitable and sustainable previously developed land and/or underutilised sites for all types of development within existing settlements as a priority. Where no PDL is available, consideration should then be given to suitable and sustainable greenfield sites within or on the edge of settlements.

In those areas that experience high constraints (e.g. flood risk), the RLDP will need to ensure that it contributes to resilient communities through improvement and regeneration programmes.

Managing Settlement Form:

• Conwy currently has a number of Green Wedges designed to protect urban form.

The RLDP will need to protect from urban sprawl and inappropriate development through review of the Green Wedges.

Strategic Sites:

• Key strategic sites should be identified in the Preferred Strategy supported by concept drawing, deliverability assessment and viability assessment

In reflecting their contribution to the future growth requirements for Conwy and as key components of the North Wales Growth Deal Five Strategic Sites have been identified as making an important contribution to the overall provision for growth during the Plan Period

Place Plans:

• Place Plans are discretionary, non-statutory. They may be prepared at the initiation of the local community and are a powerful tool to promote collaborative action to improve well-being and placemaking.
• Place Plans should support the delivery of LDP policies and are adopted as supplementary planning guidance.

The RLDP will need to set out the policy approach for Place Plans to assist communities.

Healthy and Social Places in Conwy

Transport and Accessibility:

• The planning system should enable people to access jobs and services through shorter, more efficient and sustainable journeys, by walking, cycling and public transport. Access to sustainable transport is key to supporting healthy well connected communities.
• Active travel routes within the CCBC area are described as being poor and lacking investment.
• Being a predominantly rural area, some communities struggle to avoid car usage as opposed to sustainable modes of travel.
• Some communities, especially along the coastal corridor experience highways capacity issues.

The current Regional Transport Plan identifies priority projects for the Conwy Area.

The Core Road Network connects the CCBC area to adjacent County Boroughs and to regional transport consortium areas. The following roads constitute the Core Roads Network in the CCBC area: A55 (Northern Coastal route) and A470 (Central route).The two main core roads connect local areas of population and major settlements, adjoining with B-road networks and all classified unnumbered routes within the CCBC area.

The RLDP will need to influence the location, scale, density, mix of uses and design of new development to ensure it improves choice in transport and secures accessibility in a way which supports sustainable development, increases physical activity, improves health and helps to tackle the causes of climate change and airborne pollution.

The RLDP will need to

• Enable More Sustainable Travel Choices - measures to increase walking, cycling and public transport, reduce dependency on the car for daily travel;
• Network Management - measures to make best use of the available capacity, supported by targeted new infrastructure; and
• Demand Management - the application of strategies and policies to reduce travel demand, specifically that of single-occupancy private vehicles.

Housing, Affordable Housing and Gypsy and Traveller Needs:

• The population of Conwy is expected to increase by approximately 5.6% of which migration is the biggest driver of this change.
• By 2033 households will be smaller and there will be more households then present, both of which will result in the need for additional housing.
• Conwy's population is ageing.
• Conwy experiences a serious issue of the younger population out-migrating.
• Current evidence suggests that Conwy currently has an approximate need of 120 affordable housing units a year or 1800 up to 2033
• Conwy currently has a less than five year housing land supply at 3.1 years. Historically, the annual build rate is around 250 units.
• There will be a continued need for Gypsy and Travellers. The current Gypsy and Traveller Needs Assessment concludes a need for a Transit Site consisting of 7 Pitches.

These key issues result in the need for additional housing and associated infrastructure to be provided over RLDP period.

There are also implications on the type, mix and size of housing required to take account of smaller households and adapted living for the elderly.

The RLDP needs to encourage a more balanced age structure and address out-migration of the younger population through housing, employment, education, community facilities and services.

The need for affordable housing needs to be considered against other means of delivering other than requirement to build new housing (e.g. empty homes, private rental market). Viability is a key consideration of the RLDP in determining the level of affordable housing sought from housing developments.

The RLDP needs to ensure that it puts in place mechanisms to ensure it retains a five year housing land supply by frontloading evidence, increasing contingency sites and deallocating undeliverable lands.

The RLDP will need to ensure that it accommodates the current need for a 7 Pitch Transit Site within the Plan Area and puts in place relevant polices to deliver any future need.

Retail & Commercial Centres:

• The Joint Retail Study (Conwy & Denbighshire) concludes a need for new major convenience and comparison retail between Colwyn Bay and the remaining east of the County Borough.
• Conwy's Town Centre Health Checks conclude that some towns within the County Borough experience good health and low vacancy levels, whilst others have experienced decline over recent years due to current focus on A1 retail policy and certain town centre shop closures (e.g. high street banks).
• The following need for convenience retailing has been identified:
  • Conwy East: 35,000 sq ft
  • Conwy Central: 20,000 sq ft
  • Conwy West: No requirement
  • Conwy North: 5,000 sq ft
  • Conwy South: 15,000 sq ft
• The following need for comparison retailing has been identified:
  • Llandudno: No requirement
  • Colwyn Bay: 25,000 sq ft

The RLDP should establish a clear strategy for retail development, supported by policies, to achieve vibrant, attractive and viable retail and commercial centres.

Through the RLDP there is a need to ensure that these retail needs, pressures and opportunities are supported by appropriate retail strategies. In some situations it may be necessary to take pro-active steps to identify retail and commercial centre locations for expansion. In others it may be necessary to identify measures to reinvigorate centres or to manage a change in the relative importance of a centre as other centres' roles expand.

Community Facilities:

• Community facilities contribute to a sense of place which is important to the health, well-being and amenity of local communities and their existence is often a key element in creating viable and sustainable communities. They can include schools, cultural facilities, health services, libraries, allotments and places of worship.
• Access to services within rural areas is a particular problem with the 9 LSOAs ranked within the 10% most deprived for access to services nationally.
• Some schools are at capacity or may reach capacity depending on new homes and population increase in the future.
• There is need for new allotments and burial grounds over the RLDP period.

The RLDP should identify adequate provision for community infrastructure to meet existing and projected future population need.

Recreational Spaces:

• Recreational spaces are vital for our health, well-being and amenity and can contribute to an areas green infrastructure. They provide a place for play, sport, healthy physical activity and a place to relax, often in the presence of nature, and contribute to our quality of life.
• Networks of high quality, accessible green spaces and recreation space provision will also promote nature conservation, biodiversity and provide enjoyable opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in a wide range of physical activities in order to promote physical and mental well-being.
• The Conwy Recreational Space Assessment also identifies areas of shortfall within some areas of the County Borough.
• There is a need to identify, manage, expand and enhance the County Borough's Green Infrastructure network, including areas of public open space and recognise its importance in delivering local environmental, socio economic and health benefits, which are identified as key issues in the Conwy and Denbighshire Wellbeing Plan.

The RLDP will need to encourage physical and mental wellbeing through the provision and protection of high quality, accessible green spaces and recreation space networks.

Prosperous Places in Conwy

Economic Development:

• The Conwy Employment Land Review (ELR) concludes that the labour force in Conwy, that is the number of economically active people of working age, is forecast to increase by 2033. On this basis between 12.46 and 13.33 hectares of business land (gross) could be required over the RLDP period.
• There is a need to ensure local employment sites are safeguarded and allocations come forward to support employment in communities.
• There is a net outflow of 4,784 residents who commute out from Conwy to work in other areas. Conwy has a lower job density ratio of 0.72 compared to the Welsh average of 0.74 and neighbouring authorities (0.78 in Denbighshire and 0.85 in Gwynedd). Rebalancing the land uses of the County to ensure that more (and better quality) jobs are provided could help to reverse this trend and 'claw-back' out commuters, reducing net out-commuting rates.
• Conwy is part of the North Wales Growth Deal which will create job opportunities, which will also have implications on employment, housing and infrastructure requirements.
• Strategic employment sites should be identified at a regional scale by agreement amongst local authorities on which sites best serve the area as a whole.
• The ELR states that the employment land allocations should be split 50% B1 Business and 50% for B2/B8 Industrial and Warehousing.
• The Conwy Property Market Assessment indicates that new employment land should be located along the key A55 trans-European route.
• The Conwy Economic Strategy also promotes the use of urban town centres as key areas for employment growth.
• There is a need to support the development of business networks and clusters particularly in relation to innovative and technology based enterprise.

The RLDP will need to support long-term economic prosperity, diversification and regeneration, by taking advantage of Conwy's strategic position within the wider regional growth deal and by promoting a holistic and co-located employment and housing growth strategy.

The RLDP should direct economic development and investment to the most efficient and most sustainable locations.

The RLDP should support the provision of sufficient land to meet the needs of the employment market at both a strategic and local level. Existing and allocated employment sites should be protected via the RLDP.

The RLDP should seek to:

• co-ordinate development with all forms of infrastructure provision such as transport and utilities
• align jobs and services with housing and sustainable transport infrastructure, to reduce the need for travel, and dependency on travel by car;
• deliver physical regeneration and employment opportunities to disadvantaged communities
• support business networks and clusters where appropriate.
• associated transport, environmental and telecommunications infrastructure links are needed to support these networks and clusters and, where improvements are necessary, these should be included in the development plan

The RLDP should also look favourably on any renewable and low carbon energy generation proposals designed to serve clusters, such as district heating systems and high efficiency energy recovery from waste, or the provision of an integrated network of waste recycling or collection.

Tourism:

• Tourism can be a catalyst for regeneration, improvement of the built environment and environmental protection.
• Tourism is increasingly important to our economy and is supported by the Conwy Destination Management Plan (2019 - 2029)
• Tourism plays a very important part in Conwy's economy and should be supported by the RLDP in a sustainable way. Tourism in Conwy has historically been supported by excellent natural and historic assets, as well as being strategically located to the coast and to Snowdonia National Park.
• More recently there has been growth in sustainable all-year round outdoor and adventure tourism business.
• Conwy has seen a demand in different types of tourism accommodation away from the traditional.
• Tourism development in rural areas will need to be sympathetic in nature and scale to the local environment.
• Conwy has high levels of traditional caravan accommodation sites, a high level falling within the flood risk area to the east of the County Borough.

The RLDP should encourage tourism where it contributes to economic development, conservation, rural diversification, urban regeneration and social inclusion, while recognising the needs of visitors and those of local communities.

In addition, the RLDP should support the continued success of existing tourist growth in Conwy, by encouraging appropriate tourism-related development, which is sympathetic in nature and scale to the local environment.

There will be a need to ensure sustainable tourism is promoted which seeks to accommodate all-year round tourism as opposed to seasonal.

Conwy's Rural Economy:

• A strong rural economy is essential to support sustainable and vibrant rural communities. The establishment of new enterprise and the expansion of existing business is crucial to the growth and stability of rural areas, supported by the required housing and necessary community infrastructure.
• Conwy's rural settlements accommodate approximately 15% of the County Borough's population. The majority of the settlements fall some distance from the higher order urban centres, and as such economic development and the necessary infrastructure will need to be considered in the RLDP.
• Brexit will have impacts on our rural communities who may need to diversify further

The RLDP should promote and support sustainable and vibrant rural communities by establishing new enterprise, expanding existing business and by adopting a constructive approach to agriculture and changing farming practices.

The RLDP will need to adopt a constructive approach towards agricultural development proposals, especially those which are designed to meet the needs of changing farming practices or are necessary to achieve compliance with new environmental, hygiene or welfare legislation. In addition the RLDP should adopt a positive approach to the conversion of rural buildings for business re-use.

Additionally, the RLDP will need to adopt a positive approach to diversification projects in rural areas. Diversification can strengthen the rural economy and bring additional employment and prosperity to communities.

The RLDP should allocate new rural sites for economic development in development plans where appropriate.

Whilst the protection of the open countryside should be maintained wherever possible, the expansion of existing businesses located in the open countryside should be supported in the RLDP provided there are no unacceptable impacts.

Transportation Infrastructure:

• The provision of sustainable transport infrastructure is essential in order to build prosperity, tackle climate change, reduce airborne pollution and to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Conwy.
• There is a need to facilitate the delivery, decarbonisation and improvement of transport infrastructure in a way which reduces the need to travel, particularly by private vehicles, and facilitates and increases the use of active and sustainable transport
• Active travel routes within the CCBC area are described as being poor and lacking investment.
• The Regional Transport Plan identifies priority transportation projects for Conwy
• Conwy has multiple town railway stations on the North Wales mainline route with connections to many other major destinations. Additionally, the Conwy Valley line runs from Llandudno station, connecting many rural villages. The bus service along the coastal corridor is generally very well served, although some areas may require additional services to accommodate growth. The rural area has a good service feeding Llanrwst, but is limited thereafter in supporting the wider rural settlements.
• A number of sustainable transport interchanges are planned within the area.
• The area currently has a number of large railway siding areas

The RLDP should support necessary transport infrastructure improvements, where it can be demonstrated that it increases the use of sustainable transport and reduces reliance on the private car for daily journeys.

The RLDP should locate growth in areas that have the necessary or planned infrastructure to create sustainable places and reduce the need for car usage. The RLDP should also identify where additional public transport and interchanges are required and should be protected to support new development.

The RLDP should include all proposals for new roads and major improvements to the primary road network over the plan period, and set out the broad policy on priorities for minor improvements.

Telecommunications:

• Affordable, secure electronic communications infrastructure is essential to people and businesses.
• Areas of Conwy experience shortfalls in mobile telecommunication and areas do not have access to fixed-line broadband.

The RLDP should help support telecommunications infrastructure in appropriate locations. It should set out policies for telecommunications development, including criteria-based policies to guide development to suitable locations.

The RLDP should seek to support proposals for new broadband infrastructure or improvements to existing networks or apparatus. Policy should also ensure that broadband infrastructure is an essential requirement in new development proposals.

Energy and Climate Change:

• Climate change research predicts an increase in the severity and frequency of rainfall events. Flooding from rivers, sewers and surface water is therefore likely to increase throughout CCBC in the future. CCBC is also expected to become increasingly vulnerable to tidal flooding as sea levels rise.
• CCBC provided 2.7% of low carbon energy generation for Wales in 2015. However, this can be improved through further generation of future renewable capacity.
• The Conwy Renewable Energy Review also sets out strategic proposals for wind and solar that the RLDP will need to factor.
• The Conwy Economic Strategy promotes increased renewable energy schemes and an aspiration to bring forward a Tidal Lagoon along the North Wales coast, which would see improved flood resilience, tourism and leisure generation and regeneration in addition to renewable energy generation.
• In the long term we can expect a continued trend away from fossil fuel generation towards more sustainable sources of energy.

The RLDP should look to put in place relevant policy to:

• reduce the amount of energy we use in Conwy;
• reduce our reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels;
• actively manage the transition to a low carbon economy; and
• mitigate the causes of climate change in accordance with the energy hierarchy for planning.

The RLDP should secure an appropriate mix of energy provision, which maximises benefits to Conwy's economy and communities whilst minimising potential environmental and social impacts. It should fully recognise the benefits of renewable and low carbon energy as part of the overall commitment to tackle climate change and increase energy security. It should support renewable, low energy sustainable energy use and grid access within developments.

The RLDP should consider the renewable energy resource in Conwy in formulating a renewable energy target, informed by an appropriate evidence base.

The RLDP policies should ensure sustainable building design principles are integral to the design of new development. Additionally, the RLDP should assess strategic sites through an economic viability assessment to identify opportunities to require higher sustainable building standards.

The RLDP should, where relevant, provide policies to clarify where in the Strategic Search Areas large scale wind energy developments are likely to be permitted.

Minerals:

• The provision for aggregates within individual local authorities is guided by the Regional Technical Statement (RTS) for aggregates, which is a requirement of paragraph 50 of Minerals Technical Advice Note 1. This technical statement is currently under review and is due to be published early in 2020.
• The revised RTS will make recommendations for any apportionments necessary to ensure an adequate supply of crushed rock and sand & gravel aggregates, including the nationally recommended minimum provision of 7 years sand & gravel and 10 years for crushed rock.

The timing of the publication of the RTS does not dovetail with the LDP review timetable, however at this stage there remains a significant landbank of permitted crushed rock reserves in Conwy which is predicted to last the full LDP review period plus the required 10 years landbank, and it is therefore considered unlikely that there would be any significant requirement to make additional provision.

Also an absence of commercially viable and unconstrained sand & gravel resources means that any provision potentially required of Conwy for sand & gravel is more likely to be met by an apportionment on Gwynedd.

Future LDP reviews will need to be mindful of the outcome of the RTS (once published.)

Waste:

• A number of regional monitoring reports have been published which show that local authority collected waste arising in the County have generally declined since 2008 and recycling rates have generally increased.
• The requirement to produce Regional Waste Plans has been removed, although there is still a requirement to carry out monitoring to ensure that sufficient disposal and recovery capacity exists within a region.
• The main conclusion to date has been that there is no additional need for disposal capacity within the region and that any further requirement for residual waste treatment capacity should be carefully considered to ensure that the facility would not result in overprovision.

Although national policy and guidance has changed with respect to waste, existing LDP policies MWS/6 and MWS/7 have been sufficiently flexible to enable waste infrastructure to be delivered.

The approach of using employment land for waste uses is feasible but it should be refined to include a criteria based approach to ensure that only appropriate facilities are located in employment land allocations.

Some non-strategic sites for waste management will be identified subject to local need.

Natural and Cultural Places in Conwy

Landscapes:

• The landscapes of Conwy are rich and varied. Conwy designates 6 Special Landscape Areas at the local level.
• Snowdonia National Park. Designated as a National Park in 1951, Snowdonia National Park is the largest and the first to be designated in Wales. It includes an area of 213,200 hectares. The Snowdonia National Park covers parts of Gwynedd and parts of the CCBC area, including shared settlements.

The RLDP will need to consider landscapes at the outset of formulating strategies and polices

The RLDP will need to conserve and enhance Conwy's high quality natural assets.

Coastal Areas:

• The Conwy coastline houses 85% of the population and all higher order urban areas fall along the A55 coastal corridor.
• The area has a high level of development pressure and areas such as Pensarn, Towyn and Kinmel Bay are in need of regeneration, where adversely flood risk is a key challenge. A Development Potential Study is underway for these areas to determine whether growth can be accommodated.

The RLDP will need to clearly establish what the coast means for Conwy and develop, or apply, specific policies, which reflect the characteristics of the coastline. In doing so the RLDP should acknowledge the interrelationships between the physical, biological and landuse characteristics of their coastal areas and the impacts of climate change.

Historic Environment:

• Historic assets play an important role for tourism, investment and communities and need protecting and enhancing through the RLDP.
• Conwy Castle is designated as a World Heritage Site. UNESCO considers Conwy Castle to be "one of the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe".
• The CCBC area hosts 162 Scheduled Monuments, 1735 Listed Buildings of which 29 are listed at Grade I, 1610 at Grade 2 and 96 at Grade 2*, and 24 Conservation Areas. The RLDP must support the protection and enhancement of all nationally designated heritage assets, including their setting.

The identified heritage assets benefit from statutory protection which must be taken account of within policies, proposals and guidance within the RLDP.

The RLDP must conserve and enhance Conwy's high quality cultural heritage assets.

Their contribution to the CCBC area and especially Conwy town (a world heritage town) should be preserved, protected and promoted to encourage tourism within the area.

Culturally Led Regeneration:

• National Planning Policy recognises the importance of retaining the unique and special characteristics that give a place a sense of identity and distinct feel. There are currently a number of initiatives and regeneration projects ongoing and planned for the near future across the county borough that will have a positive impact on enhancing and retaining the cultural assets of Conwy.

The RLDP will need to offer support for such initiatives where they are relevant to land use planning and compatible with other objectives /policies in the plan.

Green Infrastructure:

• The Environment (Wales) Act 2016, provides a strong driver for the delivery of multi-functional green infrastructure.
• A Conwy Green Infrastructure Assessment is underway to inform the RLDP production and develop a robust approach to enhancing biodiversity, increasing ecological resilience and improving wellbeing outcomes, and will identify key strategic opportunities where the restoration, maintenance creation or connection of green features and functions would deliver the most significant benefits in Conwy.

The RLDP should protect and enhance green infrastructure assets and networks.

The RLDP must implement its Section 6 Duty in terms diversity, Extent, Condition, Connectivity and Adaptability to Change.

Biodiversity:

• Information contained in Natural Resources Wales Area Statements and species records from Local Environmental Record Centres should be taken into account. To date NRW have not produced the Area Statements for North West Wales.
• Conwy accommodates 3 Special Protection Areas (SPAs), 8 Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a single Ramsar Site.
• Conwy accommodates 43 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 6 National Nature Reserves (NNR). Any RLDP must support the management of all nationally designated sites in pursuit of their defined conservation objectives.
• Conwy has designated over 40 Biodiversity Areas on land owned or managed by the Council and 11 Local Nature Reserves.

The RLDP will need to ensure that it follows a step-wise approach to protecting and enhancing biodiversity and building resilient ecological networks by ensuring that any adverse environmental effects are minimised and mitigated.

Water, Air, Soundscape and Light:

Air and Soundscape:

• Clean air and an appropriate soundscape contribute to a positive experience of place as well as being necessary for public health, amenity and well-being.
• The latest available data indicates that air quality standards within the CCBC area are not at risk of exceeding European Union derived Air Quality Objectives and no detailed assessments or management plans are required at Council level for any pollutants.

Light

• There is a need to balance the provision of lighting to enhance safety and security to help in the prevention of crime and to allow activities like sport and recreation to take place with the need to protect the natural and historic environment including wildlife; retain dark skies where appropriate; prevent glare and respect the amenity of neighbouring land uses, and reduce the carbon emissions associated with lighting.

The RLDP should ensure that it contains policies to prevent impact and maximise its contribution to achieving a healthier Wales by aiming to reduce average population exposure to air and noise pollution alongside action to tackle high pollution hotspots. In doing so, the agent of change principle will be a relevant consideration.

The RLDP should also identify areas, such as areas of cultural or historic importance, to be given special consideration in terms of soundscape where this may be necessary to safeguard the vibrancy of places or provide tranquil, restorative environments within busy built-up areas.

It will be invaluable for the RLDP to identify synergies between the mapping of green infrastructure and the moderating effect the protection, or provision, of green infrastructure may have in terms of maintaining good air quality and appropriate soundscapes, including the role of tranquil green spaces.

Sustainable Placemaking in Conwy

Priority Issue

Objective

Creating Sustainable Places and Placemaking

Healthy Places, Equality and Wellbeing

Good Design, the Built Environment and Placemaking

Welsh Language

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

Placemaking in Rural Areas

Managing Settlement Form

Previously Developed Land (PDL), Constrained Land and Creating Sustainable Places

Place Plans

Strategic Objective 1 (SO1): Contribute to the creation of sustainable places, social inclusion and improved wellbeing overall in Conwy through the delivery of inclusive placemaking and regeneration that ensures future growth levels and development takes place in sustainable and accessible locations, seeks to promote good design and healthier places, protects Welsh language and is supported by the necessary social, environmental, cultural and economic infrastructure to create great places.

Related Objectives: All Objectives

Healthy and Social Place in Conwy

Housing, Affordable Housing and Gypsy and Travellers

Strategic Objective 2 (SO2): Promote a holistic and co-located employment and housing growth strategy by delivering new homes, including affordable homes and gypsy and traveller accommodation needs in sustainable and accessible locations, and ensuring that the right range of housing types, sizes and tenure are brought forward alongside the necessary community infrastructure.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15

Retailing and Commercial Centres

Strategic Objective 3 (SO3): Achieve vibrant, attractive and viable town and commercial centres in Conwy by redefining their role and by encouraging a diversity of activities and uses.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 & 14.

Community Facilities

Strategic Objective 4 (SO4): Contribute to a sense of place and overall health, wellbeing and amenity of local communities by ensuring that the existing and future population groups have access to a sustainable mix of community facilities.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13 & 14

Recreational Spaces

Strategic Objective 5 (SO5): Encourage physical and mental wellbeing through the provision and protection of high quality, accessible green spaces and recreation space networks.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14 & 15.

Transport and Accessibility

Strategic Objective 6 (SO6): Deliver sustainable development and seek to tackle the causes of climate change by extending the choice of sustainable transport to enable Conwy's communities to access jobs and key services through the promotion of shorter and more active and efficient walking, cycling and public transport use and by influencing the location, scale, density, mix of uses and design of new development.

Related Objectives: All objectives

Prosperous Places in Conwy

Economic Development

Transportation Infrastructure

Telecommunications

Strategic Objective 7 (SO7): Support long-term economic prosperity, diversification and regeneration, by taking advantage of Conwy's strategic position within the wider regional context and by promoting a holistic employment and housing growth strategy, which will facilitate new jobs growth of the right type in sustainable and accessible locations, support business networks and clusters, increase skills in high value employment and provide the necessary new infrastructure, which overall will enable new businesses to locate in Conwy and existing business to grow.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13

Tourism

Strategic Objective 8 (S08): Encourage and support the provision of sustainable tourism where it contributes to economic prosperity and development, conservation, rural diversification, regeneration and social inclusion, while recognising the needs of visitors, businesses, local communities and the need to protect historic and natural environments.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13 &15.

Conwy's Rural Economy

Strategic Objective 9 (S09): Promote and support sustainable and vibrant rural communities by establishing new enterprise, expanding existing business and by adopting a constructive approach to agriculture and changing farming practices.

Related Objectives: All objectives

Energy and Climate Change

Strategic Objective 10 (S010): Secure an appropriate mix of energy provision, including the promotion of a Tidal Lagoon, which maximises benefits to Conwy's economy and communities whilst minimising potential environmental and social impacts.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 & 13

Minerals and Waste

Strategic Objective 11 (SO11): Contribute to the implementation of the circular economy, manage waste with minimal environmental impacts and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, including for energy generation and providing an adequate supply of minerals and materials for construction.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 15.

Natural and Cultural Places in Conwy

Landscapes

Historic Environment

Strategic Objective 12 (SO12): Conserve and enhance Conwy's high quality natural and cultural heritage assets.

Related Objectives: All objectives

Coastal Areas

Strategic Objective 13 (SO13): Support growth, regeneration and development opportunities in Coastal Areas, whilst at the same time being aware and responsive to the challenges resulting from natural pressures.

Related Objectives: All objectives

Green Infrastructure

Biodiversity

Strategic Objective 14 (SO14): Protect and enhance biodiversity and build resilient ecological networks.

Related Objectives: SO1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 & 15.

Water, Air, Soundscape and Light

Strategic Objective 15 (SO15): Reduce exposure to air and noise pollution, balance the provision of development and lighting to enhance safety and security, and protect and enhance the water environment and water resources, including surface and groundwater quantity and quality.

Related Objective: All objectives

Coastal Development Strategy Area

Sub-Area

West

Creuddyn

Central

East

Urban

Llanfairfechan, Penmaenmawr

Conwy, Llandudno Junction, Deganwy/Llanrhos, Llandudno, Penrhyn Bay/Penrhynside

Rhos on Sea, Mochdre, Colwyn Bay, Old Colwyn

Abergele/ Pensarn, Towyn, Kinmel Bay

Tier 1 Main Villages

Dwygyfylchi*

Glan Conwy

Llanddulas

Tier 2 Main Villages

Llysfaen

Minor Villages

Bryn Pydew, Glanwydden, Pentrefelin

Rhyd y Foel, St George

Hamlets

Capelulo*

Bryn y Maen

Bodtegwel

Rural Development Strategy Area

Key Service Centre

Llanrwst

Tier 2 Main Villages

Betws yn Rhos, Cerrigydrudion, Dolgarrog*, Eglwysbach, Llanfair TH, Llangernyw, Llansannan, Trefriw*, Tal y Bont*/Castell

Minor Villages

Groes, Henryd, Llanbedr y Cennin*, Llanddoged, Llanelian, Llangwm, Llannefydd, Pentrefoelas, Tal y Cafn, Tyn y Groes

Hamlets

Bryn Rhyd-yr-Arian, Brymbo, Bylchau, Cefn Berain, Cefn Brith, Dinmael, Glasfryn, Groesffordd, Gwytherin, Hendre, Llanfihangel GM, Maerdy, Melin y Coed, Nebo*, Pandy Tudur, Pentre Isa, Pentre Llyn Cymmer, Pentre Tafarn y Fedw, Rhydlydan, Tan y Fron

Key Strategy Component

Does the new Strategy consider this component?

Has regard to National, Regional and Local Strategies, Plans, Policies and Evidence.

Y

Has regard to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, 5 Key Planning Principles and Sustainable Outcomes.

Y

Seeks to create Sustainable Places and embraces sustainable placemaking.

Y

Promotes healthy places, equality and wellbeing in Conwy.

Y

Promotes a more balanced age-structure and seeks to reduce out-commuting by supplying and protecting the right level of homes, jobs and community facilities to support the retention and return of the younger and economically active population.

Y

It would promote a holistic strategy and allow for new homes and employment to be provided in line with the Hierarchy of Settlements to reflect the sustainability, accessibility and functional attributes of settlements, their services and facilities as well as their ability to accommodate growth.

Y

Recognises the high level flood risk and highways constraints to the East of the County Borough and the need to progress investment and regeneration to promote resilient communities.

Y

It supports and provides for the necessary utility and community infrastructure to support growth.

Y

Seeks to provide 4,300 (plus 20% contingency) new homes and 1,800 affordable houses supported by the required utility and community infrastructure.

Y

Seeks to increase the number of smaller market housing units, opportunities for adapted living and a 50% split in supply of social and low cost home ownership properties where appropriate.

Y

Is deliverable and reflects past build rates and capacity of the development industry.

Y

Promotes greater flexibility in the rural areas to reflect the difficulty in delivering housing schemes and ultimately provides for a framework that protects community identity and supports local growth.

Y

Provides for 1,800 new jobs to contribute to economic growth and jobs creation which reflects the Conwy Employment Land Review, regional North Wales Growth Deal and infrastructure supply, whilst at the same time providing flexibility for changes in economic demand over the Plan Period.

Y

Reflects the Conwy Employment Market Analysis with regards to the appropriate location for new employment growth.

Y

Recognises the limited availability of brownfield lands, but at the same time prioritises brownfield opportunities where suitable and deliverable, prior to greenfield.

Y

Promotes an appropriate level of development in rural settlements to meet local growth and diversification.

Y

In rural areas it conserves attributes balanced against the economic, social and recreational needs of local communities and visitors.

Y

Adopts a constructive approach towards agricultural development proposals, especially those which are designed to meet the needs of changing farming practices or are necessary to achieve compliance with new environmental, hygiene or welfare legislation. A positive approach to the conversion of rural buildings for business re-use, in addition to taking a positive approach to diversification projects in rural areas will be adopted.

Y

Contributes to the delivery of physical and social regeneration opportunities and provides for a diverse and cohesive range of settlements and communities.

Y

Recognises the value of language and includes policies to support growth in the use of the Welsh language.

Y

Enhances design quality to create great places for people in Conwy.

Y

Protects from urban sprawl and inappropriate development through review of the Green Wedges and use of settlement boundaries.

Y

Identifies key strategic sites within the Preferred Strategy.

Y

It will encourage alternative sustainable modes of transport to increase walking, cycling and public transport, reduce dependency on the car for daily travel and contribute to the reduction in climate chance.

Y

Locates growth in areas that have the necessary or planned infrastructure to create sustainable places and reduce the need for car usage. The RLDP should also identify where additional public transport and interchanges are required and should be protected to support new development.

Y

Meets the needs for Gypsies and Travellers now and provides the necessary mechanisms to deliver future need.

Y

Reduces the impact of development on the coastline and countryside and seeks to conserve and enhance Conwy's high quality natural and cultural heritage assets.

Y

Seeks to achieve vibrant, attractive and viable town and commercial centres in Conwy by redefining their role and by encouraging a diversity of activities and uses.

Y

It is supported by the required utility and community infrastructure.

Y

Encourages tourism where it contributes to economic development, conservation, rural diversification, urban regeneration and social inclusion, while recognising the needs of visitors and those of local communities.

Y

Supports the continued success of existing tourist growth in Conwy, by encouraging appropriate tourism-related development, which is sympathetic in nature and scale to the local environment.

Y

Ensures sustainable tourism is promoted which seeks to accommodate all-year round tourism as opposed to seasonal.

Y

Supports telecommunications infrastructure in appropriate locations and sets out policies for telecommunications development, including criteria-based policies to guide development to suitable locations.

Y

Seeks to support proposals for new broadband infrastructure or improvements to existing networks or apparatus.

Y

Recognises the benefits of renewable and low carbon energy as part of the overall commitment to tackle climate change and increase energy security.

Y

Supports renewable, low energy sustainable energy use and grid access within developments.

Y

Considers and plans for the protection and allocation of minerals needs over the Plan Period.

Y

Promotes sustainable waste management.

Y

Protects and enhances the natural, historic and built conservation qualities of Conwy and its high value landscapes.

Y

Establishes what the coast means for Conwy and develops specific policies, which reflect the characteristics of the coastline. In doing so it acknowledges the interrelationships between the physical, biological and landuse characteristics of their coastal areas and the impacts of climate change.

Y

Protects and enhances green infrastructure assets and networks.

Y