Rhondda Cynon Taf Revised Local Development Plan 2022 - 2037 Preferred Strategy

Section 5 – The Settlement Assessment and Settlement Hierarchy

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 A key part of the RLDP process is to undertake a Settlement Assessment that informs the identification of a Settlement Hierarchy. This should ensure that decisions on the location of development in the RLDP consider issues such as sustainable growth patterns, supporting of services and facilities, and the relationship between the scale of settlements and how they are used by people.

5.1.2 RCTCBC has undertaken this process to determine if the current hierarchy is still correct. This is set out in greater detail in the Settlement Assessment and Settlement Hierarchy Paper. The assessment was based on the current LDP Settlement Hierarchy at the outset.

5.1.3 The agreed regional methodology for undertaking Settlement Assessments was utilised in the first instance; although as the paper sets out, appropriate, additional considerations were made. Both qualitative and quantitative assessment took place, including a very comprehensive analysis of all settlements. Settlements were assessed to ascertain the relationship between them, their sustainability credentials, the level and proximity of services and facilities present, population size, distance to and frequency of public transport links and the percentage of Welsh speakers present. This was ultimately to determine their ability and capacity to accommodate further development.

The Revised LDP Settlement Hierarchy

5.1.4 The outcomes of the Settlement Assessment indicated the need for a small number of amendments to the current LDP Settlement Hierarchy.

5.1.5 Firstly, to make a more clear distinction with the closely associated Retail Hierarchy, 'Principal Towns' are now referred to as 'Principal Settlements.'

5.1.6 Secondly, Pontyclun is indicated as a smaller settlement in the current LDP, (although it was within the Principal Town of Llantrisant/Talbot Green in earlier iterations of the current LDP preparation). However, the Settlement Assessment concluded that Pontyclun now forms part of what is now a Principal Settlement, given the clear interdependent, social, economic and geographical relationships between these places. From this point forward, this Principal Settlement is referred to as 'Talbot Green, Pontyclun and Llantrisant'. The housing and employment areas throughout are considered to be indivisible, in the context of the larger settlement. Residents of Talbot Green, Pontyclun and Llantrisant rely on the commercial and public transport opportunities throughout the settlement, which are interconnected.

5.1.7 Further, the village of Llwydcoed is now considered to be a smaller settlement, being slightly more detached than those places that comprise the Principal Settlement of Aberdare (these being Aberdare, Aberaman, Abernant, Trecynon and Cwmdare). Llwydcoed is more akin to the Cwmbach and Abercwmboi/Cwmaman settlements, as although they retain an inter-dependent relationship with Aberdare, they are further removed and more independent.

5.1.8 All other settlements within the Hierarchy have remained the same therefore the Settlement Hierarchy for the County Borough is as follows: