4 Vision and Strategic Objectives
4.1 Vision
4.1.1 The Vision’s aim is to convey the kind of place which it is envisaged that Carmarthenshire should become by 2021. The Vision explains how the LDP seeks to address the identified issues and drivers, and has particular regard to the ‘headline’ issues highlighted in chapter 3. It has been developed and shaped through the Key Stakeholder Forum, engagement and participation, evidence gathering (including the SA/SEA process) and reference to national, regional and local policies. The Vision provides a spatial perspective which gives the Plan purpose and direction in a way which ensures that it is capable of being delivered through the land use planning system.
4.1.2 The Vision also has regard to the Integrated Community Strategy. Whilst noting the importance of the Community Strategy, it was deemed inappropriate to simply adopt the Community Strategy’s Mission Statement as the LDP Vision as it lacked sufficient spatial relevance. However, regard has been had to the content of the Community Strategy in formulating a Vision for the LDP.
4.1.3 The Vision for the LDP is as follows:
Carmarthenshire will be a prosperous and sustainable County of contrasts. It will have distinctive rural, urban and coastal communities, a unique culture, a high quality environment and a vibrant and diverse economy.
The County will offer a high quality of life within safe, accessible and inclusive communities. Everyone will have access to good quality employment, a suitable mix of housing and to community and recreational facilities – all within a clean and green environment.
IN SPATIAL TERMS THE COUNTY WILL BE CHARACTERISED BY:
• Llanelli fulfilling its potential as a modern and vibrant service centre developing upon its waterfront location.
• Carmarthen continuing to thrive as a prosperous and strategically located service and administration centre retaining its distinctive county town character.
• The ongoing emergence of Ammanford/Cross Hands as a distinctive and diverse Western Valleys based growth area.
• Sustainable socially inclusive communities and efficient local economies centred upon the County’s market towns and larger villages.
• Vibrant rural communities as living, working environments.
• A countryside that is valued and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Figure 4 – The Local Development Plan Vision
4.2 Strategic Objectives
4.2.1 The Strategic Objectives are statements of a condition or situation which the Authority aims to achieve and represent broad intentions to which the more detailed policies and proposals within the LDP will strive to deliver. The Objectives elaborate upon the LDP vision and focus on the deliverability of the LDP. It is crucial that the Objectives relate to and are capable of addressing the local, national and regional issues and drivers, so as to ensure that the Vision is deliverable.
4.2.2 The issues, the review of national, regional and local policies (notably the Community Strategy and The Wales Spatial Plan), and the visioning and strategic work undertaken by the Key Stakeholder Forum were all central to the development of the Strategic Objectives for the Carmarthenshire LDP. The SA/SEA has also played a central and iterative role in their development with their compatibility evidenced as part of that process. Regard should be had to the evidence base for further detail including the Issues, Vision and Objectives Topic Paper, which sets out their evolution, and also evaluates the compatibility of the objectives against each other as well as against the Sustainability Appraisal Framework. The Paper also appraises the linkages between the Vision and the Strategic Objectives.
4.2.3 The LDP Strategic Objectives, grouped under the appropriate ‘pillar’ of the Community Strategy, are outlined below. A cross reference to the relevant key issue or driver is also provided.
| A BETTER PLACE: Environment – improving the world around us, today and for tomorrow. |
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| SO1: To protect and enhance the diverse character, distinctiveness, safety and vibrancy of the County’s communities by ensuring sympathetic, sustainable, and high quality standards of design.
NRID: 2,14,16 and LID: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10,17,18,40,50,52 |
| SO2: To ensure that the principles of spatial sustainability are upheld by: (a) enabling development in locations which minimise the need to travel and contribute towards sustainable communities and economies and respecting environmental limits, and (b) to wherever possible encourage new development on previously developed land which has been suitably remediated. NRID: 1,8,12,13,14,15,16 and LID: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,25,26,31,33,34,35,36,41,42,44 |
| SO3: To make provision for an appropriate mix of quality homes; access to which will be based around the principles of sustainable socio-economic development and equality of opportunities. NRID: 2,7,12 and LID: 2,3,4,16,19,20,21,24,25,26,45,48,49,50,53 |
| SO4: To ensure that the natural, built and historic environment is safeguarded and enhanced and that habitats and species are protected. NRID: 2,14,16 and LID: 1,2,4,5,7,8,10,12,13,14,15,17,18 |
| SO5: To make a significant contribution towards tackling the cause and adapting to the effect of climate change by promoting the efficient use and safeguarding of resources. NRID : 2,4,5,9,10,14 and LID: 1,2,5,9,10,11,12,13,14,22,41 |
| OPENING DOORS: Lifelong learning – helping everyone to achieve their potential, from childhood to old age. |
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| SO6: To assist in widening and promoting education and skills training opportunities for all. NRID: 2,13,15 and LID: 26,27,28,31,33,36,37,45,53 |
| SO7: To assist in protecting and enhancing the Welsh Language and the County’s unique cultural identity, assets and social fabric. NRID: 2,7,12,16 and LID: 4,24,25,30,47,48,49 |
| FEELING FINE: Health and wellbeing – tackling the causes of ill health by looking at life in the round. |
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| SO8: To assist with widening and promoting opportunities to access community, leisure and recreational facilities as well as the countryside. NRID: 1,2,7,12,13,15,16 and LID: 1,2,5,26,32,33,34,36,45,47,53 |
| SO9: To ensure that the principles of equal opportunities and social inclusion are upheld by promoting access to a high quality and diverse mix of public services, healthcare, shops, leisure facilities and work opportunities. NRID: 1,2,3,12,13,15,16 and LID: 7,26,28,29,31,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,42,43,44,45,48,49,52,53 |
| INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION: Regeneration – building resources, creating opportunities and offering support. |
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| SO10: To contribute to the delivery of an integrated and sustainable transport system that is accessible to all. NRID: 1,2,3,15 and LID: 1,2,5,6,7,9,11,33,36,37,39,40,41,42,43,44,47,48,49 |
| SO11: To encourage investment & innovation (both rural and urban) by: (a) making an adequate provision of land to meet identified need; and, (b) making provision for the business and employment developmental needs of indigenous /new employers, particularly in terms of hard & soft infrastructural requirements (including telecommunications/ICT); and, (c) making provision for the infrastructural requirements associated with the delivery of new homes particularly in terms of hard & soft infrastructural requirements (including foul and surface water); and, (d) adhering to the principles of sustainable development and social inclusion in terms of the location of new development. NRID: 1,2,3,6,7,11,12,13,15 and LID: 1,2,4,5,6,7,9,16,27,28,29,36,37,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49 |
| SO12: To promote and develop sustainable & high quality all year round tourism related initiatives. NRID: 1,3,7,11,13,16 and LID: 1,2,4,5,17,18,24,25,29,30,32,34,40,41,42,43,45,46,47,48,49 |
| FEELING SECURE: Safer communities – offering security, tackling crime and fear of crime, helping us to look out for each other. |
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| SO13: To assist with the development and management of safe and vibrant places & spaces across the County. NRID: 12,16 and LID: 1,4,28,29,37,39,40,50,51,52,53 |
| SO14: To assist with the delivery and management of mixed & sustainable communities by: (a) promoting safe, vibrant and socially interactive places; and, (b) promoting the utilisation of local services and produce whenever possible. NRID: 2,6,7,12,15,16 and LID: 1,2,3,4,19,25,26,28,31,32,33,36,37,38,39,43,45,48,49,50,51,52,53 |
Table 2 – LDP Strategic Objectives
4.2.4 The following illustrates the Vision in relation to the plan making process. It should be noted that the Vision excludes those local spatial aspects detailed above.
Figure 5 – The Vision and Local Development Plan Process
4.2.5 More details on the development of the LDP Vision and Strategic Objectives can be found in the Key Stakeholder Forum consultation reports and the LDP Issues, Vision and Objectives Topic Paper – these are both available at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk.