Background Studies
The Council has been undertaking a number of background studies which will provide information to support decision-making in the Local Development Plan process. These studies include the annual Joint Housing Land Availability Study, an Urban Housing Potential Study, a Joint Local Housing Market Assessment, an Employment Land and Premises Review, a Retail Study, a Sport and Recreation Study, a Renewable Energy Study, a Phase 1 Habitats Survey, a Regional Waste Sites Study, an Aggregates Study, a Candidate Sites Register, a LANDMAP / Special Landscape Area Study and a Gypsy-Traveller Study.
Joint Housing Land Availability Study
Joint Housing Land Availability Studies (JHLAS) are published annually jointly with the Welsh Assembly Government, and provide information on where housing is being built in the County Borough, how rapidly housing sites are likely to be developed, and how many years’ housing land is available based on development plan targets. The Council has a duty to maintain a five year supply of housing land, and the 2006 study indicates that Torfaen has either a 6.2 or a 4.6 year supply, depending on which calculation method is used. The 2007 Study is currently with the Welsh Assembly Government and will be published by them on approval. Copies are available from: -
Candice Coombs, Planning Assistant
Department for the Economy and Transport
Welsh Assembly Government
QED Centre
Treforest Industrial Estate
Cardiff, CF37 5YR
Tel: (01443) 845884
Email: candice.coombs@wales.gsi.gov.uk|
Urban Housing Potential Study
Baker Associates have conducted an Urban Housing Potential Study| to assess the suitability, availability and viability of a wide range of sites for housing development within the current urban areas of Torfaen County Borough. The Study concluded that 6436 dwellings could come forward from urban areas in the period 2006 - 2021. The Study was published in January 2008.
The Council will assess the potential of sites which lie outside the urban boundary separately, as part of the Candidate Sites process.
Joint Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen Local Housing Market Assessment
Opinion Research Services have undertaken a Local Housing Market Assessment| jointly for Torfaen County Borough Council, Monmouthshire County Council, and Newport City Council. This identified three major housing markets within Torfaen, and assessed both the nature and level of current and future housing demand and housing need in the County Borough. The assessment will inform policy development in the area of market and affordable housing provision. For more information please contact: -
Nicola Perkin, Housing Strategy & Enabling Assistant
Tel: (01495) 766234
Email: nicola.perkin@torfaen.gov.uk|
Employment Land & Premises Review
DTZ have conducted an Employment Land & Premises Review| to assess both the likely future demand for employment sites, and the suitability and sustainability of current employment sites and premises (including vacant sites) for future use. The study pinpoints sites and premises which are clearly unlikely to be required by the market or are now unsuitable for employment development, and allows the Council to safeguard the best employment sites and premises against competing demands from other higher value users. The Draft Study was published in January 2008 and the final study is due to be published shortly.
Retail and Leisure Study
GVA Grimley has produced a Retail and Leisure Study| to provide a comprehensive analysis of retailing and leisure provision in Torfaen. This includes survey material on the availability, use, health and accessibility of existing town centres, and an assessment of retail and commercial leisure facilities, proposals, and patterns of usage. The Study was published in September 2007.
Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study
Consultants will shortly be invited to tender for the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study. This will be an assessment of the quantity, quality and demand for open space, outdoor sports pitches and facilities and children’s play areas in the County Borough, and will identify a Torfaen-specific standard for the provision of the above facilities. This study will be completed by the end of 2008.
Renewable Energy Study
A study to assess the potential of renewable energy resources and technologies, along with energy efficiency measures, will be undertaken in order to determine how much the County Borough of Torfaen can contribute to reducing carbon emissions and increasing renewable energy production. Work on this study is due to commence shortly with completion by the end of 2008.
Phase 1 Habitats Survey
This Geographical Information System (GIS) based survey has recently been completed by the Council’s Countryside team and the findings will be used to shape the assessment of candidate sites and the LDP strategy. For more information on the Survey, please contact either: -
Steve Williams, Senior Ecologist
Tel: (01633) 648256
Email: steve.williams@torfaen.gov.uk|
Kris Roberts, Ecologist
Tel: (01633) 648015
Email: kris.roberts@torfean.gov.uk|
Regional Waste Sites Study
The South East Wales Regional Waste Group is currently consulting on the 1st Review of the South East Wales Regional Waste Plan. This plan recognises that a network of waste management / recovery facilities is required that would have enough capacity to serve more than one local authority area and provides guidance on how they are to be identified in LDPs, including using ‘areas of search maps’. For Torfaen between 4.4 & 8.0ha will need to be identified depending on which technologies are used. The Council will shortly be seeking tenders from consultants to undertake this study to identify these strategic waste sites, for completion by the end of 2008.
For further information visit www.sewaleswasteplan.org|
Aggregates Study
The South Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party is currently consulting on the South Wales Regional Technical Statement (RTS) for Aggregates. The RTS provides a sustainable strategy for the provision of aggregates in the region, with the apportionment of future aggregates provision for each mineral planning authority area that provides a strategic basis for LDPs. For Torfaen the Draft RTS suggest that: -
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the potential to make a resource allocation in the LDP of 5-6 Mt be assessed; and
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limestone / sandstone resources should be investigated and safeguarded for possible future use.
The Council, possibly with neighbouring local authorities, may shortly be seeking tenders from consultants to undertake this study to consider these matters, for completion by the end of 2008.
For further information visit www.swrawp-wales.org.uk|
Candidate Sites
A Register of Candidate Sites proposed by landowners, developers and stakeholders for inclusion in the LDP is available to view by appointment at County Hall; please telephone Robert Murray (Principal Planner) on 01633 648805 to arrange a viewing. The Council is not seeking views on all of these candidate sites at this time; we are only seeking views on ones we have identified as ‘Strategic Sites’ in the LDP Preferred Strategy|, although we are seeking views on how they will be assessed (see below).
The official deadline for the submission of potential candidate sites has passed. Any further candidate sites submitted will be recorded and considered by the Chief Officer Planning & Public Protection. However, the Council cannot guarantee that, following this consideration, all sites submitted from now on will be assessed along with candidate sites previously accepted.
A Draft Candidate Sites Assessment Methodology| has been developed by the Council and will shortly be used to consider the suitability and sustainability of candidate sites as part of the Deposit LDP. The Council is currently consulting on this draft methodology and your comments are requested by 10th March 2008.
Special Landscape Area Study
The Special Landscape Area Study was produced by TACP in 2002, and identified areas of the Torfaen landscape which are of high or outstanding quality. The study includes plans showing the suggested Special Landscape Areas, and a consideration of the appropriateness of designating Landscape Improvement Areas.
Gypsy-Traveller Study
The Council will shortly be seeking tenders from consultants to undertake a study that will assess the need for new permanent / temporary Gypsy-Traveller site(s) in Torfaen, and where necessary will identify potential sites to meet that need. The study will also identify the need for bricks and mortar accommodation for Gypsy-Travellers in Torfaen, and will propose criteria based policies on Gypsy-Travellers for the Deposit Torfaen LDP. This study will be completed by the end of 2008.