Local development plans: Powys

Homes

• The plan's affordable housing target is 21% of the new homes required, so about one in five new homes is meant to be affordable. Policy SP3, page 40

Jobs and the economy

• The plan identifies 45 hectares of land for employment, meaning business and industrial uses, to meet the area's job needs. Policy SP2, page 39
• The plan says new employment development outside allocated sites in the open countryside is supported where the location is justified by the nature of the proposal, such as reusing existing buildings or farm diversification. Policy E2, page 79
• The plan says tourism developments such as accommodation, facilities and attractions will be permitted in set circumstances, including extensions to existing developments. Policy TD1, page 103
• The plan says existing tourism uses in rural areas can only be changed to other uses if it can be proven that the existing tourism use is no longer viable, and holiday chalets, cabins or caravans cannot be changed to permanent homes. Policy TD2, page 104

Town centres and shops

• The plan says new retail development should be located in existing retail centres where possible, to support their vitality, viability and attractiveness. Policy R1, page 99
• The plan says that in Town Centre Areas, new development must not reduce the share of shop units in the main shopping streets below 75% in the Primary Frontage, or 66% in the Secondary Frontage, for shops and cafes or restaurants (A1 and A3 uses). Policy R3, page 101
• The plan does not allow a home to be created on the ground floor of a Primary Frontage in a town centre. Policy R3, page 101

Countryside, nature and heritage

• The plan says new development outside towns and villages must not, alone or together with other schemes, have an unacceptable harmful effect on the valued features of Powys's landscape. Policy DM4, page 58
• The plan says ancient woodlands, hedgerows and veteran trees cannot be replaced once lost, so it protects them from development that would cause significant damage and expects developments to keep them. Page 55
• The plan says development will not be allowed if it would cause unacceptable harm to trees, woodlands and hedgerows of significant public amenity, natural or cultural heritage value. Page 55
• The plan says many parts of Powys's historic environment, including listed buildings, conservation areas and scheduled ancient monuments (protected archaeological sites), are already protected by national law and guidance. Page 71

Climate, energy and flooding

• The plan says new development must be directed away from areas at high risk from flooding and must not increase flood risk elsewhere. Page 23
• The plan says no highly vulnerable development will be permitted in Development Advice Zone C2, which shows high flood risk areas. Policy DM5, page 60

Transport

• The plan supports transport improvements where they help sustainable growth, make the transport system more efficient and safer, link public and private transport better, and encourage passenger and freight rail. Policy T1, page 84
• The plan asks that developments reduce the need to travel by private car and encourage and improve sustainable travel, including walking and cycling (Active Travel), in all areas. Policy T1, page 84
• The plan protects the route of the Newtown by-pass, a planned road to relieve congestion in Newtown, so that it cannot be blocked by other development. Policy T3, page 85
• The plan says that development proposals should meet highway access requirements for all transport users and vehicle parking standards. Page 69

The Welsh language

• The plan says that in Welsh Speaking Strongholds, housing developments of 10 or more homes on windfall sites (sites not allocated in the plan) within or next to the listed towns and large villages must be assessed for their impact on the Welsh language. Policy DM12, page 66
• If that assessment shows a development may have an adverse impact on Welsh, the developer must provide a Language Action Plan setting out measures to protect, promote and enhance the Welsh language and culture. Policy DM12, page 66
• The plan says that all advertisements, place names and signage within the Welsh Speaking Strongholds are expected to be bilingual, to protect local linguistic character. Page 68

Where it stands

Preferred strategy Reached in August 2024.

The authority has published how much growth the new plan should allow and roughly where, and consulted on it.

What happens next

Consulting on the draft plan

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