Local Development Plan - the process

Caerphilly County Borough Deposit Local Development Plan: Public Consultation in respect of Additional Focused Changes

A special meeting of Caerphilly County Borough Council was held on the 1 December 2009 in order to consider representations made to Focused Changes to the Deposit LDP. As a result of the council consideration of the representations made, the following Focused Changes have now been withdrawn:

Comments were invited on the above Additional Focused Changes together with all other changes identified, during a 6-week consultation period, which took place Wednesday 6 January 2010 - Wednesday 17 February 2010.

Comprehensive List of Changes (incorporating Focused Changes and Additional Focused Changes) (PDF 11.7mb)

Focused changes

The council has now considered all respresentations received to the Deposit LDP and considers that certain changes may be appropriate to ensure the Plan is sound. These changes are outlined in the 'Statement of Focused Changes' which is available to download below.

The council invited your views on the Focused Changes during a six-week consultation period Wednesday 23 September to Wednesday 4 November 2009.

Copies of the statement were available for public inspection at the council offices in Pontllanfraith, Blackwood and at all local libraries and Customer Service Centres in the county borough during their respective opening hours.

For further information or advice please contact the LDP Team on 01495 235376

Consultation Document

Statement of Focused Changes (PDF 107kb)

Focused Changes Representation Form (PDF 24kb)

In order for the Planning Inspector to amend the LDP to incorporate focused changes it is considered essential that satisfactory consultation has been undertaken. Furthermore it is important that the focused changes are in accordance with the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment. For information purposes only, please find the SA/SEA Assessment of Focused Changes below. Please note that this document is not part of the Focused Changes Consultation.

The Assessment of Focused Changes to the LDP (PDF 1.3b)

The council has now considered all respresentations received to the Deposit LDP. Please find below links to the report for special council, which considers all duly made representations:

Council Consideration of Deposit and Alternative Sites Representations September 2009 (PDF 95kb)

Council Report on Deposit and Alternative Sites Consultations – Volume 1 (PDF 706kb)

Council Report on Deposit and Alternative Sites Consultations – Volume 2 (PDF 13.0mb)

Council Report on Deposit and Alternative Sites Consultations – Volume 3 (PDF 25.5mb)

Council Report on Deposit and Alternative Sites Consultations – Volume 4 (PDF 19.0mb)

Council Report on Deposit and Alternative Sites Consultations – Volume 5 (PDF 3.9mb)

Council Report on Deposit and Alternative Sites Consultations – Volume 6 (PDF 342kb)

LDP - Consultation Report and Suggested Main Issues (PDF 1.1mb)

The Proposed Changes table provides a comprehensive list of changes that the council considers should be made to the Deposit LDP for reasons of clarity, conformity and to correct minor drafting errors. In addition the table indicates the formal Focused Changes that are the subject of a six week consultation exercise commencing on the 23 September 2009 concluding on the 4 November 2009. If you would also like to make any representations in respect of any of the additional changes outlined in the Proposed Changes table you can do so by the deadline indicated.

Comprehensive List of Changes (PDF 486kb)

In response to correspondence received from the Planning Inspector dated 12 November 2009, the council responded clarifying a number of issues raised and produced a schedule to address outstanding issues.

The Schedule details each Focused Change, including those changes that the Inspector considers sufficiently substantive to warrant that of a 'focused change'. The schedule clarifies each change in respect of Paragraphs 4.29 and 4.30 of Local Development Plans Wales (December 2005). The Schedule is accompanied by the following appendices:

Schedule (PDF 779kb)

Appendix 1 (PDF 4.6mb)

Appendix 2 (PDF 51kb)

Appendix 3 (PDF 19kb)

In commencing his examination of the Deposit LDP, the Planning Inspector has raised concerns (12 November) that "the council's explanation and justification for a number of the proposed Focused Changes is simply that it is in line with the Council Resolution of 15 September 2009."

In addition the Planning Inspector has indicated that a number of the focused changes plainly do not meet the requirements of Welsh Assembly Government guidance specifically paragraphs 4.29 and 4.30 of LDP Wales in respect of soundness. The focused changes referred to are generally those that arose from discussions in the council meeting that were contrary to the recommendations of the LDP Focus Group or of Officers. The most serious outcome resulting from this would be a finding of unsoundness leading to a recommendation by the Inspector that the plan be withdrawn.

It is important going forward to examination that all policies and proposals are demonstrably sound, therefore a Special Council Meeting was held on Tuesday 1 December to reconsider the Focused Changes.

Council Report (PDF 358kb)

Council Consideration of Focused Changes Report (PDF 3.6mb)

As a consequence of the council's deliberations on the 1 December 2009, the following Focused Changes are hereby formally withdrawn:

All other Focused Changes considered by the council were maintained as there is a clear planning rationale for them.