Local development plans: Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

The overall plan

• The plan's spatial strategy sets out how much growth the National Park needs and where it should go. Page 59
• The plan aims for every community in the National Park to be able to meet people's day-to-day needs locally. Page 59
• The plan lists the places it defines as Settlements, and development in those places must follow the spatial strategy. Policy S LP1, page 88
• The plan wants development to be directed to sustainable locations near facilities and services, so people need to travel less. Policy SQ2, page 20

Homes

• The plan's housing requirement is 1990 new homes in the National Park between 2007 and 2022. Policy Policy 24, page 107
• The plan estimates there is a need for 514 affordable homes over the first five years of the plan. Page 116
• The plan allocates land next to Brecon Enterprise Park for a permanent site for Gypsies and Travellers. Policy Policy 30, page 123

Town centres and shops

• The plan's retail strategy is to keep and improve the vitality and viability of its town centres, mainly by protecting existing shops in the Retail Centres shown on the Proposals Map. Policy SP13, page 139
• Within these centres, new developments are for uses such as shops, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafés, business, hotels, non-residential institutions and assembly and leisure uses, as set out in the planning Use Classes. Policy Policy 42, page 142
• The plan aims to stop existing shops in the centres being lost to other uses, unless the applicant shows that the change would not harm the centre or that there is no longer a need for a shop. Policy Policy 42, page 141

Countryside, nature and heritage

• The plan says any development or change of use in the National Park must show it does not have an unacceptable impact on, or spoil the enjoyment of, the Park's special qualities, wildlife, water, geology, history, and built heritage. Policy SP3, page 29
• The plan says development in the countryside must add positively to its rural setting and improve the quality of the landscape, without harming wildlife, natural beauty, cultural heritage or biodiversity. Policy CYD LP1, page 100
• The plan says a developer must prove to the National Park Authority's satisfaction that there is no unacceptable loss, breaking up or other harm to a habitat or landscape feature, such as a hedgerow or woodland. Policy Policy 6, page 33
• The plan says new development or changes to buildings in or affecting the setting of a Conservation Area will only be allowed if they preserve or enhance the character or appearance of that area. Policy Policy 19, page 48

Climate, energy and flooding

• The plan says that a national presumption against large scale renewable energy projects within the National Park is built into Strategic Policy SP9. Such schemes are seen as conflicting with the Park's purpose as a protected landscape. Policy SP9, page 55
• The plan says none of its development allocations are in areas at risk of flooding (DAM zones C1 and C2). DAM refers to the Welsh Government's Development Advice Maps. Page 55

The Welsh language

• The plan says proposals in areas where Welsh is an important part of community life will be allowed only if the developer can demonstrate that they would not harm the community's social, linguistic and cultural character. Policy Policy 52, page 156
• The plan says development may have to be phased, so that new homes or buildings are added gradually and can be absorbed into the area, if this is needed. Policy Policy 52, page 156
• The plan says the Welsh language policy will normally apply in community and town council areas where more than 30% of people speak Welsh, according to the Census. Page 155
• The plan says that where the Welsh language is considered to be at risk from future development, a Welsh Language Impact Assessment method will be developed, and in the meantime a precautionary approach may be taken if a proposal would pose a significant threat to the language. Page 155

Where it stands

Setting a timetable Reached in May 2025.

The authority is setting a timetable for writing a new plan, which the Welsh Government has to agree. This is called the delivery agreement, and it says when each consultation will be.

What happens next

Consulting on a preferred strategy

The stages of a new plan

1. 1. Reviewing the current plan
2. 2. Setting a timetable
3. 3. Sites put forward
4. 4. Preferred strategy
5. 5. Draft plan published
6. 6. Sent for examination
7. 7. Being examined
8. 8. Adopted