Consultation On Updated LDP Expected To Be Backed

A formal consultation on changes to Pembrokeshire’s local development plan is expected to be backed at a special meeting later this week.

At an extraordinary council meeting taking place on September 13th, councillors are asked to approve the Replacement Pembrokeshire County Council Local Development Plan (2017-2033) – LDP 2, Deposit Plan 2 – as a basis for a public consultation in autumn 2024.

The consultation would be held for a minimum of six weeks.

The Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out the local policy framework for determining planning applications and directing growth in the part of Pembrokeshire for which the county council has planning jurisdiction.

A report for members states: “Pembrokeshire County Council’s current LDP was adopted in 2013 and has an end date of 2021, although it remains in force as the adoption of the plan pre-dated the formal introduction of statutory end dates for LDPs in Wales.

“Nonetheless the current LDP is now more than 11 years old and the need to prepare and adopt a replacement LDP is paramount, in order to make provision for the new growth needed to support communities and businesses up until 2033 and to protect and enhance Pembrokeshire’s environment.”

The new LDP2 includes a 60/40 per cent split between new dwellings proposed in the urban and rural areas, policy making provision for 6,425 dwellings, in order to deliver a target of 5,840 dwellings, with a target of 2,000 of them affordable.

There are three strategic residential allocations made by LDP 2:  Slade Lane, Haverfordwest; Maesgwynne, Fishguard; and South of Conway Drive, Steynton, intended to provide 622 new dwellings between them.

In town centres it proposes: “Some changes are proposed to the Town Centre Strategy, the purpose of which is to maintain and enhance the vibrancy of town centres.  Town Centre boundaries have been reviewed and, where necessary, revised.  Protected retail frontages are retained, but their extent has generally been reduced.

“No residential use will be accepted at ground floor level in the primary frontages, but in the context that the extent of the primary frontages is reduced.  Residential at ground floor level in secondary frontages may be accepted, where justified, and will be accepted in all other town centre locations except for primary frontages.  Residential use above ground floor level is being supported.  Sustainable transport to and from town centres is also supported.”

Two solar array allocations are included in the plan, at Llanstadwell and Wolfscastle, and a coastal change policy, which limits development in areas vulnerable to flooding due to sea-level rise.

A new policy on water quality, including protection of water resources, is also included, responding to the river water quality issues in the Cleddau and Teifi catchments.