Planning Policy Wales - Brecon Beacons National Park

7.4.3 In drawing up development plan policies and in considering development proposals local
planning authorities should take into account the possibility that certain kinds of businesses may
be especially important in providing opportunities for social groups disadvantaged within the
labour market. Whether this is the case can only be determined by analysis of the circumstances in
particular places at particular times, and will need to be kept under review.
7.5 Development plans and the economy
7.5.1 The development plan should:
• set the policy context for the provision of employment, taking into account the local authority’s
economic development strategies and other relevant plans and strategies, such as the Assembly
Government’s economic development policies 10 ;
• include policies to maintain or develop sustainable communities, encouraging environmentally
sound, climate responsive and socially responsible economic development;
• encourage diversification in the local economy and development which respects the environment;
• provide for development to be accommodated within or adjoining the main urban areas and, in
rural areas, established local centres. Plans should recognise the interdependence of urban and
rural areas, for example encouraging the potential of smaller towns to provide employment both
for their own populations and for those who live in surrounding rural areas;
• for rural areas, set out an integrated rural development strategy for new development based on
sustainable development principles and tailored to the area’s specific assets and needs 11 ;
• include policies on the scope for new economic development in and adjoining rural settlements,
and identify suitable sites. In remote rural areas and smaller settlements a criteria based
approach, as opposed to a site allocation approach, should be considered;
• include policies encouraging farm diversification and new rural development opportunities;
• identify a range and choice of sites to meet different economic and employment needs, having
regard to where the private sector want to invest, and which meet, or have the potential to meet,
the Assembly Government’s objectives for transport and other relevant policy fields;
• contain policies setting out clear criteria against which new economic development proposals will
be assessed. These should not simply list the types of development which might be appropriate
but should focus on the impact of different types of development (particularly cumulative impact)
and should also set standards of design and scale. The justification for any conditions or
agreements should be included;
• establish criteria for key sites, where these are included, making explicit the reasons why they
should be differentiated from other sites. The range of uses which are appropriate for key sites
should be specified;
• contain appropriate policies in support of the development of innovative business or technology
clusters and eco-industrial networks;
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Planning Policy Wales Edition 3 - July 2010 - Chapter 7 Supporting the Economy