Local Development Plan 2018 - 2033

A Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out proposals and policies for the future use of all local land, and is the main development plan document in Wales. The LDP covers a period of fifteen years and should reflect national planning policy in Wales.

At our council meeting on the 10 of January 2018 we resolved to prepare a revised LDP for Carmarthenshire. The timetable for the preparation of the Revised LDP is set out within the Delivery Agreement (DA) which was agreed by the Welsh Government on the 28 June 2018. Once adopted (completed) the Revised LDP will be used as the basis for deciding on planning applications and will assist in guiding future investment programmes in areas such as infrastructure as well as Plans and strategies including those of partner organisations.

Delay to the Revised LDP Timetable and Second Deposit Plan 

The production of the Revised LDP has been delayed due to the publication of new targets by Natural Resources Wales which seek to reduce river phosphate levels in special areas of conservation (SAC) across Wales.   

In Carmarthenshire, the Afon Teifi, Afon Tywi, River Wye and Afon Cleddau are located in special areas of conservation. At present the Afon Teifi and Afon Cleddau are failing against NRW’s targets. 

In response to these new targets and the challenges they present we have been working to re-assess the implications of the new targets for the LDP and the development allocations within phosphate sensitive catchments.  In addition to the NRW’s new targets, several other matters have arisen since their publication which will affect the LDP and need further consideration.  

Therefore, at a meeting of the Full Council on the 9^th March 2022, Carmarthenshire County Councillors agreed to allow amendments to the Revised Delivery Agreement timetable and to prepare a second Deposit Revised LDP.  This is to allow time to evaluate the implications and for essential evidence and data to be gathered and mitigation options to be developed to address the phosphate issue.  The second Deposit LDP will incorporate previously agreed Focussed Changes (where they remain relevant). It will also reflect and respond to Covid-19 recovery, the net zero carbon and decarbonisation agenda, the new Technical Advice Note 15 and Revised Flood Maps, and Future Wales: The National Plan 2040. 

A new timetable will soon be submitted to the Welsh Government. It is anticipated that the second Deposit LDP will be published for public consultation in December 2022/January 2023. 

Until the Revised LDP is adopted, the 2006-2021 LDP will remain in place for all planning decisions, in line with advice issued by the Welsh Government.