Local development plans: Bridgend

Bridgend's local development plan: what it allows for, the sites it sets aside for building, and progress on a new plan.

All local development plans Planning applications

The plan in force

Bridgend County Borough Replacement Local Development Plan 2018-2033

Adopted on 13 March 2024. It covers 2018 to 2033.

What the plan says

The main points of the plan on each topic, in plain language. Each point names the policy it comes from and links to the page. They were written automatically from the plan and checked against the words on that page, so read the policy itself before relying on one.

The overall plan

The plan's growth strategy is designed to attract and keep skilled, working-age households in the county, and to create an overall population increase of 9.4% or 13,681 people over the plan period. Policy SP1, page 48
The plan directs most growth to the Regeneration Growth Areas and Sustainable Growth Areas, with Bridgend remaining the main area of growth as the sub-regional centre. Page 54
The plan's Settlement Hierarchy names Bridgend as the Primary Key Settlement, with Maesteg, Pencoed, Porthcawl and Pyle, Kenfig Hill and North Cornelly as Main Settlements, while the Valleys Gateway is considered much less suitable for growth because of transport constraints. Policy SF1, page 41

Homes

The plan expects development proposals to deliver 1,711 affordable homes across the County Borough over the plan period. Policy COM2, page 107
The plan requires gypsy and traveller need to be met, identifying seven additional pitches over the plan period and one permanent three-pitch site at Land off Old Coachman's Lane. Policy SP7, page 118

Jobs and the economy

The plan sets aside 68.8 hectares of land for new business and industrial use, to accommodate up to 7,500 additional jobs over the plan period. Policy SP11, page 134

Town centres and shops

The plan focuses new shops, offices, leisure and community facilities in town, district and local centres. Bridgend town centre is the top of the hierarchy, and Maesteg and Porthcawl are the town centres. Policy SP12, page 144
The plan says new development in town and district centres must provide shops, offices or other business floorspace on the ground floor, to keep centres lively. Policy SP12, page 144
Outside the town and district centres, the plan generally does not support new out-of-centre shops. Existing retail parks and the Bridgend Designer Outlet Village are the places where retail development is concentrated. Policy ENT9, page 154

Countryside, nature and heritage

The plan protects the countryside outside settlement boundaries. Development there must conserve and enhance its integrity, and there is a presumption against development except for listed exceptions such as agriculture, renewable energy and some rural housing. Policy DNP1, page 183
The plan gives a high level of protection to nationally important sites such as the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and the historic landscapes of Kenfig and Merthyr Mawr Warren. Policy SP17, page 181
Development proposals must provide a net benefit for biodiversity and improved ecosystem resilience. Harm to important habitats is only allowed in limited cases, and any unavoidable harm must be mitigated or compensated. Policy DNP6, page 190

Climate, energy and flooding

The plan says that Phase 1 of the major flood defence works at Porthcawl, the Eastern Promenade, is designed to protect the Salt Lake area and existing development to the north. Page 234

Transport

The plan requires developments to make walking and cycling routes that are direct, safe and attractive, linking new homes and sites to nearby towns, bus and train stations, schools, shops and jobs. Developers must also follow the Council's Active Travel design standards. Policy PLA12, page 97
The plan protects land for bus improvements along several valley and coastal routes, including the Porthcawl to Cornelly corridor. These improvements could include new bus stop shelters, raised kerbs and priority measures for buses. Policy PLA8 (1), page 93
The plan safeguards land for a new railway station with a park and ride facility at Brackla, Bridgend, so that people can travel by train and leave their car at the station. Policy PLA8 (4), page 92
The plan says all development must have enough parking, in line with the Council's parking standards. Developers must also consider electric and ultra low emission vehicles. Policy PLA11, page 96

The Welsh language

The plan says the site is not located in a Welsh language sensitive area. These are places the plan identifies for extra attention to the Welsh language. Page 236
The plan says a 2ha, one form entry Welsh medium primary school will be provided on the site, and an existing English medium primary school will get a classroom extension. Page 236

What the plan allows for

Figures as the plan states them, with the page they're on. Read automatically from the plan and checked against the page's own words.

Figure	Plan in force
Homes needed over the plan period	7,575 homes page 47
Homes the plan provides for	8,628 homes page 47
Land for jobs	68.8 hectares page 47

How the plan is working

From the annual monitoring report for 2024-25.

Every October each authority publishes an annual monitoring report, saying how the plan is working: for example, how many homes were built in the year against what the plan expects.

Homes completed in the year124 homes page 6
Homes completed since the plan began2,257 homes page 47
Affordable homes completed in the year49 homes page 7

The annual monitoring report (PDF)

A new plan

No replacement plan is under way.

Sites set aside for building

Sites the plan allocates for development, as it lists them. Having a site allocated means the authority expects it to be built on during the plan period; each one still needs planning permission.

6 sites

Reference	Site	Place	For	Homes	Hectares	Source
PLA3	Land West of Bridgend, Bridgend Sustainable Growth Area	Bridgend	Mixed use	850	36.9	page 74
PLA4	Land East of Pencoed, Pencoed Sustainable Growth Area	Pencoed	Mixed use	804	44.3	page 78
COM1(2)	Land South East of Pont Rhyd-y-cyff, Maesteg and the Llynfi Valley Regeneration Growth Area	Pont Rhyd-y-cyff	Mixed use	140

Council meetings about the plan

Recent council and committee meetings with an item on the development plan.

Cabinet 16 April 2024Strategic Development Plan (SDP) Initial Resourcing Approach
Development Control Committee 4 April 2024The Replacement Bridgend Local Development Plan
Council 13 March 2024Adoption of the Replacement Local Development Plan 2018-2033
Town & Community Council Forum 11 March 2024Replacement Local Development Plan Update
Development Control Committee 17 November 20222022 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for the Bridgend Local Development Plan (LDP) 2006 - 2021
Cabinet 15 November 2022Replacement Local Development Plan Delegated Authority
Council 19 October 2022Replacement Local Development Plan Submission Document
Cabinet 19 July 2022Replacement Local Development Plan Submission Document
Council 17 November 2021Bridgend Local Development Plan (LDP) - Revised Delivery Agreement
Cabinet 16 November 2021Bridgend Local Development Plan (LDP) - Revised Delivery Agreement

Sources

The plan's details were last checked on 2 November 2026.

Figure

Plan in force

Homes needed over the plan period

7,575 homes page 47

Homes the plan provides for

8,628 homes page 47

Land for jobs

68.8 hectares page 47

Reference

Site

Place

For

Homes

Hectares

Source

PLA3

Land West of Bridgend, Bridgend Sustainable Growth Area

Bridgend

Mixed use

850

36.9

page 74

PLA4

Land East of Pencoed, Pencoed Sustainable Growth Area

Pencoed

Mixed use

804

44.3

page 78

COM1(2)

Land South East of Pont Rhyd-y-cyff, Maesteg and the Llynfi Valley Regeneration Growth Area

Pont Rhyd-y-cyff

Mixed use

140