Conwy Local Development Plan 2007 - 2022

STRATEGIC POLICY DP/1 – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

1. Development will only be permitted where it is demonstrated that it is consistent with the principles of sustainable development. All developments are required to:

1. Accord with national guidance in line with Policy DP/6 – ‘National Guidance’;
2. Be consistent with the sequential approach to development as set out in Spatial Policy DP/2 – ‘Overarching Strategic Approach’;
3. Make efficient and effective use of land, buildings and infrastructure by giving priority to the use of previously developed land in accessible locations, achieve compact forms of development through the use of higher densities and be capable of future adaptation in line with Policy DP/2 and other related policies within the Plan;
4. Conserve or enhance the quality of buildings, sites and places of historic, archaeological or architectural importance in line with Strategic Policy CTH/1 – ‘Cultural Heritage’;
5. Conserve or enhance the quality of biodiversity and wildlife habitats, and safeguard protected species in line with Strategic Policy NTE/1 – ‘The Natural Environment’;
6. Take account of and address the risk of flooding and pollution in the form of noise, lighting, vibration, odour, emissions or dust in line with Policies DP/2 and DP/3 – ‘Promoting Design Quality and Reducing Crime’;
7. Make efficient and effective use of resources by employing sustainable building techniques, incorporating energy and water conservation measures and, wherever possible, the use of renewable energy, in line with Policy DP/3 and Strategic Policy NTE/1;

2. Development proposals should also where appropriate:

1. Provide safe and convenient access by public transport, bicycle and on foot minimising the need to travel by car in line with Policy DP/2 and Strategic Policy STR/1 – ‘Sustainable Transport, Development and Accessibility’;
2. Include measures to manage traffic and minimise congestion arising in line with Strategic Policy STR/1;
3. Make provision for infrastructure and other public services made necessary by the development, in line with Policies DP/4 – ‘Development Criteria’, DP/5 – ‘Infrastructure and New Developments’ and the Monitoring and Implementation Plan;
4. Be designed to a high standard, being attractive, adaptable, accessible, safe and secure as set out in Policy DP/3;
5. Promote sustainable economic development in line with Strategic Policy EMP/1 – ‘Meeting the Employment Need’;
6. Conserve or enhance the quality of valued open spaces, the character and quality of local landscapes and the wider countryside in line with Strategic Policies NTE/1 and CFS/1 – ‘Community Facilities and Services’;
7. Take account and address the potential impact of climate change in line with Strategic Policy NTE/1;
8. Protect the quality of natural resources including water, air and soil in line with Strategic Policy NTE1;
9. Reduce waste production and manage waste re-cycling in line with Strategic Policy MWS/1 – ‘Minerals and Waste’.

Policy DP/2 – OVERARCHING STRATEGIC APPROACH

Development will be located in accordance with the overarching strategic approach set out below:

Urban Areas
Abergele/Pensarn, Colwyn Bay (inclusive of Rhos-on-Sea and Old Colwyn), Conwy, Deganwy/Llanrhos, Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Llanfairfechan, Llanrwst, Mochdre, Penmaenmawr, Penrhyn Bay/Penrhynside and Towyn/Kinmel Bay.

Most new development will take place within, and on the fringe of, these urban areas. Over the Plan period approximately 85% of the housing and 85% of employment (B1, B2 & B8) development (through completions, commitments, windfall and new allocations) will be located primarily within, and on the fringe of, the urban areas to reflect the spatial priorities of contributing to the creation of sustainable communities.
Urban Areas will be key in the provision of a combination of market and Affordable Housing for Local Need (AHLN) on both allocated sites and windfall sites. Settlement boundaries will be amended to reflect the proposed development. AHLN will also be permitted on exception sites adjoining Llanrwst.

Main Villages
Tier 1:
Llanddulas, Dwygyfylchi*, Llysfaen, Glan Conwy

Tier 2:
Betws-yn-Rhos, Cerrigydrudion, Dolgarrog*, Eglwysbach, Llanfair Talhaiarn, Llangernyw, Llansannan, Tal-y-Bont*/Castell and Trefriw*

The scale of proposed future development will reflect the settlements’ needs in terms of the size and function and their physical and functional relationships with the urban areas. Main Villages provide a service function for the Minor Villages and Hamlets and this will be maintained and further developed to meet the needs of these communities. Over the Plan period, approximately 15% of the housing and 15% of the employment (B1, B2 & B8) development will be accommodated within Main Villages, Minor Villages and Hamlets, but primarily in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Main Villages and delivered through completions, commitments, windfall and new allocations.

Tier 1 Main Villages will provide a combination of market value and AHLN and Tier 2 Villages will seek to provide 100% AHLN only on both allocated sites and windfall sites within the confinements of the settlement boundaries. To provide an element of flexibility, market dwellings will be permitted in exceptional circumstances on allocated sites and windfall sites within the Tier 2 Villages as a means to deliver affordable housing on-site, subject only to financial viability testing. Such development will be of a smaller scale than that permitted in the Urban Areas. No further development will be permitted outside settlement boundaries, except for 100% small scale AHLN on exception sites to meet identified need in line with Policy HOU/6 – ‘Exception Sites for Affordable Housing for Local Need’ and in exceptional circumstances to meet employment needs in line with Policy EMP/3 – ‘New B1, B2 & B8 Office and Industrial Development on Non-Allocated Sites’;

Minor Villages
Bryn Pydew, Glanwydden, Groes, Henryd, Llanbedr-y-Cennin*, Llanddoged, Llanelian, Llangwm, Llannefydd, Pentrefelin, Pentrefoelas, Rhyd-y-Foel, Rowen*, St George, Tal-y-Cafn and Tyn-y-Groes

Limited development will take place in the Minor Villages to protect the character of the area, and contribute to the creation of sustainable communities. Over the Plan period, no market housing sites or employment sites will be allocated, neither will the settlement boundaries be drawn around the Minor Villages. In line with Policy HOU/2, the Minor Villages will seek to deliver 100% AHLN only on windfall sites within the confinements of the settlement or where single or small groups of new dwelling estates (up to 5 dwellings) represent a form of infilling and relates physically and visually to the settlement. To provide an element of flexibility, market dwellings will be permitted in exceptional circumstances on windfall sites within the confinements of the settlement as a means to deliver affordable housing on-site, subject only to financial viability testing. Small scale 100% AHLN exception sites may be permitted outside, on the fringe of, the main settlement confinements, where it meets local need in line with Policy HOU/6.

In exceptional circumstances new B1, B2 & B8 employment development will be permitted in line with Policy EMP/3.

Hamlets
Bodtegwel, Bryn-y-Maen, Bryn Rhyd-y-Arian, Brymbo, Bylchau, Cefn Berain, Cefn Brith, Capelulo*, Dinmael, Glan Rhyd, Glasfryn, Groesffordd, Gwytherin, Hendre, Llanfihangel GM, Maerdy, Melin y Coed, Nebo*, Pandy Tudur, Pentre Isa, Pentre-llyn-cymmer, Pentre Tafarn-y-Fedw, Rhydlydan and Tan-y-Fron

Over the Plan period, there will be no allocations for development within the Hamlets. Development will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. An exception will be where development would provide single AHLN or employment opportunities in acceptable and sustainable locations.

* Falls partly within the Snowdonia National Park

Policy DP/3 – PROMOTING DESIGN QUALITY AND REDUCING CRIME

1. All new development will be of high quality, sustainable design which provides usable, safe, durable and adaptable places, and protects local character and distinctiveness of the Plan Area’s built historic and natural environment. The Council will require development to:

1. Be appropriate to, and enhance, its locality in terms of form, scale, massing, elevation detail and use of materials;
2. Meet the Council’s approved standards of open space provision and parking;
3. Meet required standards of accessibility, having suitable regard to the needs of people of different ages and abilities in the design of the proposal;
4. Have regard to the impact on adjacent properties and areas and habitats supporting protected species;
5. Have regard to appropriate orientation, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in design, layout, materials and technology in accordance with NTE/6 – ‘Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies in New Development’;
6. Provide sustainable urban drainage systems to limit waste water and water pollution and reduce flood risk in line with national guidance and Policy NTE/8 – ‘Sustainable Drainage Systems’.

2. The Council will also seek, where appropriate, to:

1. Enhance the local character of buildings, heritage and open spaces;
2. Provide for a compatible mix of uses, particularly in town and village centres;
3. Incorporate landscaping within and around the development appropriate to the scale and impact of the development;
4. Integrate with existing routes to provide linked up places connecting with the wider area, in particular public facilities and green transport routes;
5. Provide developments that offer transport alternatives and promote walking, cycling and use of public transport;
6. Create safe places through the adoption of ‘designing-out-crime’ principles to provide natural surveillance, visibility, and well lit environments and areas of public movement;
7. Secure the retention and enhancement of features of biodiversity;
8. Incorporate areas and facilities for waste management, rainwater harvesting/storage, grey water reuse and recycling;
9. Have regard to the Authority’s Road Adoption Guidelines in road design.

3. The Council will seek the contribution of an agreed percentage of the total development costs for the provision or commissioning of publicly accessible art or design improvement works in accordance with DP/5 – ‘Infrastructure and New Developments’ where appropriate to its location and viability.

Policy DP/4 – DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA

1. Development proposals, where appropriate and in accordance with the policies of the Plan and the Council’s Standards, should provide the following:

1. Affordable Housing for Local Need;
2. Safe access from the highway network and enhancement of public transport, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure;
3. Car parking;
4. Safe and secure cycle parking;
5. Open Space;
6. Safe and convenient access for all to public buildings and spaces, including those with limited mobility or those with other impairments such as of sight or hearing;
7. Screened storage of refuse, including recyclable materials;
8. A design and layout that minimises opportunities for crime;
9. Financial contributions towards the provision and maintenance of infrastructure, services and facilities required by the development.

2. Planning permission will not be granted where the proposed development would have an unacceptable adverse impact:

1. On residential amenity;
2. From traffic generated;
3. On archaeological interests and the built form;
4. On the Welsh language;
5. On environmental conditions arising from noise, lighting, vibration, odour, noxious emissions or dust;
6. On ecological and wildlife interests and landscape character;
7. On flooding and flood risk;
8. On the best and most versatile agricultural land;
9. On quality of ground or surface water;
10. On essential community facilities.

Policy DP/5 – INFRASTRUCTURE AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS

All new development, where appropriate will be expected to make adequate contributions towards new infrastructure to meet the additional social, economic, physical and/or environmental infrastructure requirements arising from the development or future maintenance and upkeep of facilities. Contributions will be sought in line with the Council’s priorities.

Policy DP/6 – NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY AND GUIDANCE

Development proposals must comply with national planning policy and guidance.

Policy DP/7 – MASTERPLANS AND COMMUNITY APPRAISALS

Land use proposals resulting from Masterplans, Community Appraisals, or similar, will be supported where they:

1. Relate to the Strategic Objectives of the Plan;
2. Have regard to national policy, the Wales Spatial Plan and the Community Strategy;
3. Can be developed and supported by evidence base of need;
4. Are supported by Strategic Environmental Assessment/Sustainability Appraisal, where appropriate;
5. Are realistic, viable and can demonstrate deliverability through supplementary evidence;
6. Are prepared in consultation with the public and relevant stakeholders;
7. Conform with other related policies within the Plan.

Policy DP/8 – COLWYN BAY URBAN REGENERATION MASTERPLAN

Regeneration proposals in Colwyn Bay will be concentrated within the Colwyn Bay Masterplan (CBMP) area as shown on the proposals map. Key Proposals and interventions will be supported which assist the following Colwyn Bay urban regeneration objectives:

1. Creates the conditions for investment and economic growth and improved social activity;
2. Provides for new housing in line with Strategic Policy HOU/1 – ‘Meeting the Housing Need’;
3. Increases connectivity to the waterfront, east-west links between the town centre, East Colwyn and Eirias Park and along Abergele Road in line with Strategic Policy STR/1;
4. Provides for new town centre retail and commercial development in line with Strategic Policies CFS/1 and STR/1;
5. Enhances the opportunity provided at Eirias Park by the new Events Centre and Rugby Academy with further clustering of the sports facilities to the southern boundary;
6. Contributes to buildings and structures with local or national heritage importance through sympathetic enhancement or conservation proposals;
7. Provides for improved development of the waterfront to include coastal defence works and the enhancement of the area as a tourism and leisure facility/attraction;
8. Provides for improved development of the Bay View Shopping Centre and its connectivity with the surrounding town centre in line with Strategic Policies CFS/1 and STR/1;
9. Creates a new focus for the town centre;
10. Improves vehicle movement and public transport access to and within the town, including a new integrated transport hub at the Station Square and realigned highways and new public realm in line with Strategic Policy STR/1.