APPENDIX 20: DELIVERY AND IMPLEMENTATION

1

This appendix concentrates on the allocated sites in Section 3 of the Local Development Plan. The protection policies are not addressed within the appendix.

In general the retail and housing allocations are expected to be delivered by the private sector, including housing associations (Registered Social Landlords or RSLs). The private sector is also expected to make a contribution towards much of the public infrastructure, including transport improvements, leisure, educational and community facilities.

It must be appreciated that the ability of the private sector to deliver the above will be heavily influenced by external economic circumstances, including the UK and World economic cycles. For this reason it is highly likely that delivery of housing completions in particular will vary considerably over the 15 year period of the Plan.

Public sector budgets will be more constant but will also vary over time. In particular most public sector capital programmes have relatively short, three or five year time horizons, so it is impossible to be precise about the implementation of much of the infrastructure over a 15 year time period. Beyond the first five years, facilities have therefore been scheduled to the “2nd Phase” or “3rd Phase” of the Plan Period, meaning the years 2011-2015 and 2016-2021 respectively.

2

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water develops its investment plans in five year cycles to submit to the regulatory body OFWAT. The water authority then delivers the projects indentified to achieve the targets that have been agreed in those plans.

DCWW is currently preparing a plan to submit to the regulator for the financial period, which runs from 2010 – 2015. At this stage it cannot confirm what will feature in the OFWAT determination until it is established what will be included.

There is always more work to do than is affordable in a five-year period. The balance has to be right between the pace of investment and the increase in customer bills during the period. OFWAT’s role includes deciding if the programmes deliver value for money and that the level of investment is affordable for the Company and its customers.

Where known issues exist on our network, it may be possible for the developer of a particular site to fund the investigation to establish a solution to accommodate their development. This is something the water authority can discuss with the developer.

In some cases the development proposed will be larger than the existing network has been designed to cater for. In this instance, it will be the responsibility of the developer to approach Dwr Cymru Welsh Water to investigate the effects of their development on any existing infrastructure, and indentify any solutions to overcome those A20.2 effects. Provided the cost of those solutions are within a reasonable parameter as set by the developer it will be down to them to fund the works to be carried out by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water.

3 The Regional Transport Plan (RTP) for South East Wales includes a preliminary 5-year programme of regional transport improvements for the period 2009-2014 and where relevant, these proposals are identified below. Whether the schemes identified in the RTP programme are actually implemented during this period or in a subsequent phase will depend on the funding allocated by the Welsh Assembly Government to the final approved RTP.

4

In the past the private sector has shown a reluctance to invest in this part of the County Borough. More recently, there have been signs that this is changing but implementation of proposals in this area will still be more dependent on public finance than areas further south. Low land values and weak demand mean that significant contributions from planning obligations are unlikely in this area.

This area qualifies for both Heads of the Valleys Programme Funding (which is a long term commitment from WAG for the whole Plan Period) and European Convergence Funding (2007-2013). It is a priority area for investment for the Council and for WAG and therefore substantial input of public sector funds in anticipated.

Risks

The risks to the Plan proposals for this area are primarily funding and investment related. There are no key infrastructure proposals that would exercise a ‘blocking’ effect on the development of sites or that would require alternative contingency strategies.

External economic factors, such as a general unwillingness of the private sector to invest in housing, industrial and commercial developments, is an ever-present risk that applies to all proposals in the Plan with a private sector component. It is, however, beyond the Council’s ability to control and so is not specifically addressed below. The main effect in each case would be to delay or prolong implementation of the Plan rather than prevent it.

Only non-commercial specific risks are therefore identified below.

Implementation

MW1 Minerals and Waste Handling Facilities Site

HG1 Allocated Housing Sites

As of the base date of the most recent published Joint Housing Land Housing Land Availability Study (1st April 2007) 8 of the 22 identified housing sites had planning permission (in some cases this was subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement). These would accommodate 301 dwellings –18.5% of the total allocation in this area.

EM1 Employment Allocations

CM4 Principal Town and Local Centre Development Sites

CM5 Commercial Opportunity Area

CF1 Community Facilities

LE2 Allocation of Country Parks

SP13 Leisure Centre in the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Area

This is a strategic policy and not location specific as it is a long-term aspiration dependent on funding and condition of leisure centres in area. A site has not yet been identified for a new public leisure centre to serve this area but it is likely to be in the Bargoed area. Feasibility studies have yet to be carried out and it is likely that provision will not be made until Phase 3 of the Plan period (2016- 2021).

LE4 Formal Leisure Facilities

TM1 Tourism Proposals

TR1 Cycle Routes

TR4 Park & Ride Facilities

TR8 Regeneration Led Highway Improvements

DELIVERY – Northern Connections Corridor

Although the private sector has shown a high level of interest in investing in this area in the past, there are relatively few new development sites proposed in the LDP compared to those that already have planning consent. This means that contributions from future planning obligations will be limited and the public sector will still be responsible for most infrastructure provision in this corridor.

This area qualifies for European Convergence Funding (2007-2013) but is not a priority location within that programme as it contains relatively few very deprived settlements. It does however contain the County Borough’s principal new employment sites, which may be expected to receive strong financial support.

Risks

The major new hospital site is dependent on improvements to the A472 at Maesycwmmer but both the hospital and associated highway improvements are fully funded. There are no other allocations in this area that are dependent on a key element of infrastructure for their implementation although in general, infrastructure provision will be expected to keep pace with development.

Implementation

HG1 Allocated Housing Sites

There are no 100% affordable housing sites identified in this area, though new sites may contain up to 25% affordable housing to be provided by RSLs.

The twelve identified housing sites that had planning permission as of 1st April 2007 (in some cases subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement) would accommodate 992 dwellings – 51% of the total allocation in this area.

EM1 Employment Allocations

This area contains the majority of the LDP’s new employment opportunities. In addition there are 18 existing employment estates protected by the Plan (EM2).

CM4 Principal Town and Local Centre Development Sites

Considerable retail development has taken place in this area over the past decade. The emphasis now in town centres is on encouraging service sector employment in town centres.

CM5 Commercial Opportunity Area

CF1 Community Facilities

LE4 Formal Leisure Facilities

TM1 Tourism Proposals

TR1 Cycle Routes

TR2 New Passenger Railway Line

TR3 Railway Stations

TR4 Park and Ride Facilities

TR5 New Roads and Highway Improvements

TR7 New roads to facilitate development

DELIVERY – Southern Connections Corridor

The private sector has shown a high level of interest in investing in this area and in the Caerphilly Basin in particular, land prices are high compared to the rest of the County Borough. This means that it is feasible for contributions from planning obligations to play an important role in providing much of the infrastructure necessitated by growth. The public sector will still need to finance current infrastructure deficiencies in the area however.

This area qualifies for European Convergence Funding (2007-2013) but is not a priority location within that programme as it contains relatively few very deprived settlements. It does contain a number of large brownfield, partly contaminated sites that should qualify for appropriate government aid to secure their redevelopment.

Risks

Improvements to the transport infrastructure in particular, must proceed in parallel with development if severe traffic congestion is to be avoided in the Caerphilly Basin. Deteriorating air quality in and around Caerphilly town centre could prevent further development there if not addressed. Flood risk must be addressed in the Risca/Pontymister area for the Plan’s proposals in that area to be realised.

Implementation

HG1 Allocated Housing Sites

In April 2007 sixteen of the 28 identified housing sites had planning permission, accommodating 1,704 dwellings – 54% of the total allocation in this area.

EM1 Employment Allocations

It is anticipated that much of the employment growth in this area will occur in service industries not on employment estates, in areas such as Caerphilly town centre. In addition there are 11 existing employment estates protected by the Plan (EM2).

CM4 Principal Town and Local Centre Development Sites

Caerphilly is an important retail centre and this role will be strengthened by the Plan’s proposals for a major new mixed-use redevelopment.

Risk

Deteriorating air quality will preclude further development in Caerphilly town centre. If the South-East By-pass (TR9) proves not to be the answer to this problem then severe restrictions on traffic movements through the town centre may have to be imposed together with a limit on new development.

CM5 Commercial Opportunity Area

CF1 Community Facilities

LE2 Country Parks

LE4 Formal Leisure Facilities

Six areas of playing fields are proposed for the Caerphilly Basin.

TM1 Tourism

TR1 Cycle Routes

TR3 Railway Stations

TR4 Park & Ride Facilities

TR6 New Roads and Highway Improvements

TR7 New Roads to facilitate development