APPENDIX 3: GREEN WEDGES

This green wedge prevents the coalescence of the settlements of Llechryd in the north and Rhymney to the south.

The Heads of the Valley Regeneration Area Strategy could put considerable development pressure on this area in the short, medium and long term and as such the area needs protecting from coalescence.

The disused quarry area within the green wedge will be suitable for reclamation and suitable for a natural regeneration project or scheme to benefit the open nature of the immediate and wider setting.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence of the settlements of Fochriw and Pontlottyn.

The Heads of the Valley Regeneration Area Strategy and the potential for renewable energy and mineral working proposals could put considerable development pressure on this area in the short, medium and long term and as such the area needs protecting from coalescence.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence of Rhymney to the north and Abertysswg to the south.

The immediate area is under considerable development pressure with only the green wedge area being free from existing residential development planning approvals. The development of the green wedge would result in the coalescence of the two settlements of Rhymney and Abertysswg.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Brithdir and Tirphil.

The green wedge is a narrow strip of land on a prominent valley side and is highly visible from short and long distant views. The coalescence of these settlements would not only be detrimental to the integrity of the communities, but also the landscape setting of the settlements.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Argoed and Markham.

There is residential development pressure in both settlements. The green wedge protects an area of land that not only physically separates the settlements, but also provides a valuable open green space that is significant to the setting of both settlements within the immediate and wider landscape.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Aberbargoed, Cefn Fforest and Pengam.

This area is under intense development pressure for housing and employment development. Safeguarding land between settlements is essential to protect the individual settlements and their identities, all of which have a very strong sense of place.

The valley sides of these mid valley settlements are significant from a landscape setting, all of which have very prominent views. This makes protecting the setting of the individual settlements even more significant.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Penpedairheol in the north, Gilfach in the south west and Tir y Berth in the southeast.

This whole area is under significant development pressure with the green wedge being the only open land that now separates the three settlements. All three settlements have their own strong identity and sense of place, which should be protected for the continued integrity of the settlement and the communities within them.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Blackwood, Cwm Gelli and Cefn Fforest.

This area is the only remaining open green space that separates these three settlements. The development of Blackwood Golf Course, which is under considerable development pressure, would result in three distinctive settlements of Blackwood coalescing.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Blackwood, Oakdale and Penmaen.

These settlements have very strong visual links with each other due to the topography of the land and the existing land uses. The coalescence of Blackwood, Oakdale and Penmaen in visual terms would be detrimental to the immediate and wider setting of the settlements.

The three settlements have their own distinct identities and each has their own unique sense of place. This separation between the settlements should be protected for the continued integrity of the settlements and the communities within them.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Croespenmaen and Treowen.

This open green space is the only area that now prevents the two settlements from merging with each other. The green wedge provides a distinctive and important landscape separation between Croespenmaen and Treowen.

The area is under significant development pressure and the development of this land would result in the coalescence of two settlements that each has their own sense of place and identity.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Nelson in Caerphilly County Borough Council and Quakers Yard in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

This area is under significant residential and employment pressure. The area is an important open area of land that is not only important to retain for anti-coalescence purposes, but also for its landscape quality.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Gelligaer, Penybryn and Penpedairheol. The green wedge is split into two separate parts.

The western and northern sections of the green wedge are under significant development pressure and any development of land in these areas would result in not only the coalescence of Gelligaer, Penybryn and Penpedairheol, but also encroachment into open countryside and Gelligaer Common Historic Park and Garden.

The area of the green wedge that separates Penallta Industrial Estate, Penybryn and Gelligaer is important to retain the integrity of the residential environment separate from employment and industrial uses.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Pengam, Blackwood and Pontllanfraith.

This area has been under intense residential, employment, transport and community facility development pressure. The land itself is on a valley side and is a prominent physical open green space that provides a very important natural separation between the settlements. 

There are some significant natural heritage sites and features in the immediate and adjoining vicinity that would be vulnerable and sensitive to further development taking place in this area.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Newbridge and Abercarn.

The land between Abercarn and Newbridge is a prominent landscape that makes a very clear distinction between the two settlements. Development within this green wedge would not only result in the coalescence of the two individual settlements, but also the loss of the immediate and distant landscape setting that is essential for the character of both Newbridge and Abercarn

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Cefn Hengoed, Hengoed, Ystrad Mynach and Fleur de Lys.

The separation between these settlements has been under considerable pressure as demand for housing and employment has risen. There are in some places within the green wedge very small areas of separation.

The individual settlements all have very distinctive identities with a strong sense of place. This separation between the settlements should be protected for the continued integrity of the settlements and the communities within them.

The valley sides within this green wedge are also very important landscape features in their own right and further development on these will cause significant detrimental harm to the setting and context of the settlements.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Maesycwmmer, Pontllanfraith and Fleur de Lys.

Development pressure in this area has risen as the need for, or the requirement to extend housing, employment and industrial sites has increased.

The individual settlements all have very distinctive identities with a strong sense of place. This separation between the settlements should be protected for the continued integrity of the settlements and the communities within them.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Maesycwmmer and Ystrad Mynach.

The separation between the settlements has been under significant development pressure for housing, employment land and for the development of transport networks.

The open areas within this green wedge are also very important landscape features, with significant natural heritage features such as Tree Preservation Orders, in their own right. Further development on these will cause significant detrimental harm to the setting and context of the settlements.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Cwmcarn and Pontywaun.

The site is a long strip of land that lies in between the settlement of Cwmcarn, Pontywaun and the bypass, and provides a significant natural buffer both in terms of the noise and visual setting. 

The southern section of the green wedge is under significant development pressure. The development of this land would result in the coalescence of Pontywaun and Cwmcarn and would cause considerable visual harm to the landscape setting of the immediate and wider setting of both settlements.

The northern section of the green wedge separates Cwmcarn from Cwmcarn Forest Drive and the wider setting of Pontywaun. It is an important visual separation for two individual settlements.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Cwmfelinfach and Ynysddu.

The separation between these settlements relies on this small area of land. The green wedge is not a dominant feature in the wider landscape setting as it is placed along the valley floor. The immediate setting of the green wedge is however, significant due to the already close proximity of the two settlements

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between Abertridwr and Caerphilly.

This area is in a prominent valley side location within the immediate and wider landscape setting. This area should be protected from development to prevent the sensitive and important landscape break being lost between the settlements.

There is development pressure to develop land on either side of the valley between Penyrheol, Hendredenny and Abertridwr. The settlements have their own sense of place, particularly Abertridwr, which has a strong individual character and feels quite an isolated and rural settlement.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence of the settlement of Llanbradach to the north and Pwll-y-Pant to the south.

The Land between Llanbradach and Pwll-y-Pant is under some development pressure as the wider Caerphilly area is under intense development pressure for growth, with development rapidly spreading towards this area.

The green wedge provides a valuable landscape and visual buffer between the settlements, the Llanbradach by-pass.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the Bedwas and Caerphilly.

The green wedge is an important visual buffer that primarily prevents the coalescence between the two employment/ industrial areas of Caerphilly and Bedwas.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence between the settlements of Machen, Graig-y-Rhacca and Waterloo.

These three settlements are under significant development pressure. These three settlements, although not large, are currently intensively developed with very little land separating the three settlements. The land that remains provides a valuable visual break in the immediate and wider setting.

Further development of the land remaining between Machen, Graig-y-Rhacca and Waterloo would result in the coalescence of three settlements, each of which has their own sense of place and identity.

This green wedge prevents the coalescence of two areas within the settlement of Risca, Ty Sign to the north and Pontymister to the south.

The two areas are separated by topography, Ty Sign being on the valley side and at a higher level than Pontymister, which is on the valley floor, and by the community feel, as both areas have their own distinctive character.

The green wedge has a distinctive agricultural field pattern and rural open feel in an other wise built up area. The whole area of Risca is under intense development pressure and the safeguarding of land to prevent the coalescence of areas within the settlement of Risca is required.

This green wedge will also prevent the coalescence of the settlement of Risca and Rogerstone in Newport County Borough Council, which has significantly increased in size and now lies immediately adjacent to the Caerphilly CBC boundary.