The Welsh community that a councillor fears will be overrun with new housing developments

Fears have been voiced over the impact plans to build new housing developments could have on a valleys community. Councillor Karl Johnson, a Conservative councillor representing Llantwit Fardre, has spoken about his concerns surrounding the revised LDP that is currently being developed and said among his main worries are the possible location of the housing sites, congestion and the potential impact on roads, public transport provision, the need to protect biodiversity and natural habitat, potential flooding and the impact on health services.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is preparing a revised Local Development Plan for the period 2022-2037 and one of the key sites included in the plan is Llanilltud Faerdref/Efail Isaf which may house up to 1,000 new homes, a new school, new shops, community facilities and places to work. Some of the land would also be used as open green space and play areas.

Cllr Johnson claims several of the proposed candidate sites included in the area for development are “flawed, contradictory to national planning policy and even contradict policy outlined in the draft revised Local Development Plan preferred strategy document". He said there is a need to protect and enhance biodiversity, natural habitats and SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), claiming that the proposed housing sites in the area are located on greenfield areas which have existing flooding issues.

Cllr Johnson said ripping up green field land should not be the first option and they should be looking at bringing back empty homes into use, adding: “Protecting our green area must be a priority of the council.”

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The councillor suggested that the coke works in Beddau which is on brownfield land, would be the “perfect location” to bring something back into use – however such a solution would not be quick, cheap or simple. Back in July, plans to redevelop the former site in the south of Rhondda Cynon Taf into housing took a step forward when RCT council’s cabinet approved entering into an agreement with the developer to enable the draw-down of £8m of funding from the Cardiff Capital Region Housing Investment Fund

At the time, the report to cabinet said Cwm Coking works is a strategic site in the RCT LDP and this proposal is looking to allow the potential to develop a minimum of 625 homes, subject to planning permission, and to remove the eyesore that is the disused coking works.

Meanwhile, in terms of congestion and roads, Cllr Johnson claimed the exisitng network around Llantwit Fardre is already “saturated” with vehicles, with extensive congestion at times in both directions of the A473 at Talbot Green and Treforest Industrial Estate.

He suggested that “an additional 1,000 dwellings with poor public transport alternatives will add to this, subsequently increasing pollution in our communities”, adding it’s not unheard of for 20-minute delays at both these locations at peak times. Cllr Johnson said: “Better infrastructure needs to be constructed prior to any development in this area to mitigate wider impacts of the existing settlements, and not after when the community is in gridlock.” On public transport provision, he said that following bus service reductions or withdrawals and with the area not being on the South Wales Metro line, communities already struggle with accessing public transport.

Accrording to Cllr Johnson, the Llantrisant to Beddau Metro project remains 10 to 20 years away and is “undeliverable” on the former track bed. He said more focus needs to be on a new station on the Taff mainline of the Metro at Powerstation Hill in Tonteg to connect the community to “fast, reliable and frequent” services to Pontypridd and Cardiff.

While the council said it was unable to comment on issues raised in relation to the proposed inclusion of specific sites and any potential effects, it said all of these issues, and the representations made on them, will be taken into account by officers in the next phases of the process. To get all the latest Pontypridd news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

The local authority added that the Welsh Government has said bringing empty homes back into use cannot be used as a contribution to overall housing targets in LDPs – meaning only new homes can be included when meeting the identified target for 8,450 new homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

On health the RCT councillor said that whilst the promise of new facilities is welcome, he questioned who was going to staff them with NHS Wales already facing a “staffing crisis” - claiming it’s not uncommon for waits of five or six weeks for a GP appointment. Cllr Johnson claimed due consideration has not been given to the impact on the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, especially following significant developments on Llantrisant Road past Groesfaen.

On flooding, Cllr Johnson claimed areas within the potential site have been identified as C2 flood plain and have previously been refused planning permission, including the Ystrad Barwig Farm site. He said the subway under the A473 by Woodland Walk Garden Centre and the A473 between the Crown Hill and Beddau roundabouts regularly flood and suggested that surface water run off will increase when greenfield sites are concreted over - adding that implications to surrounding settlements Cross Inn and Talbot Green need to be modelled.

He also highlighted his concerns with the process around the revised LDP claiming there has been “poor engagement” with the community and alleging no engagement sessions have been held in the area hit hardest by the proposals. He said that these could have been held at the Crown Hill Community Centre while local councillors had organised meetings with more than 150 people attending them.

In response, the local authority said members of the public are currently being invited to have their say on the revised LDP, and that an an “extensive consultation took place from February 21 to April 17, 2024, which was widely promoted.” This included events held close to the key site proposals (Llantwit Fardre/Efail Isaf) in Pontypridd, Llantrisant, Church Village, Rhydyfelin and Beddau/Tynant.

A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “Due to the regulatory and democratic process to revise the Local Development Plan (LDP), which is ongoing, we’re unable to comment on some of the specific issues raised in relation to planning merit – for example, in relation to the proposed inclusion of specific sites and any potential effects on transportation. However, all of these issues, and the representations made on them, will be taken into account by officers in the next phases of the process.

“Members of the public are being invited to have their say on the revised LDP at several key points in the process. Most recently, an extensive consultation took place from February 21 to April 17, 2024, which was widely promoted. It allowed residents to view and have their say on a preferred strategy. All documents and information were presented on a dedicated page on the council’s website, where residents could submit their views. Hard copies were available at all council libraries, One4aLL centres, and the principal council office.

“Engagement events were held at each library, so residents could speak with officers in person. Each event lasted several hours, and they were scheduled at different times of the day and on different days. Events were held close to the key site proposal (Llantwit Fardre/Efail Isaf) in Pontypridd, Llantrisant, Church Village, Rhydyfelin and Beddau/Tynant.

“In relation to the claim about empty properties, the council’s current Empty Homes Strategy (2022-2025) clearly sets out the priorities to tackle this issue. In its first year, 646 interventions were delivered, and council tax records show the number of empty homes reduced by 258 (2022-23) – bringing the overall number of homes being brought back into use to 922 over five years. The strategy continues to ensure a coordinated and ambitious approach, with significant resources made available. However, it should be added that Welsh Government has made it clear that bringing empty homes back into use cannot be used as a contribution to overall housing targets in LDPs. Therefore, only new homes can be included when meeting the identified target for 8,450 new homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf.