Deposit Draft Local Development Plan - Rhondda Cynon Taf

6.177. Although other policies in the Plan are aimed at restricting development inthe countryside, it is considered necessary to provide additional protectionto areas of important and vulnerable open land by restricting developmenton the urban fringe and between settlements. Each of the Green Wedgeshas been identified following consideration of factors such as developmentpressure, urban form and the potential for coalscence of settlements.6.178. In the Southern Strategy Area Green Wedges have been designatedspecifically to prevent coalescence between and within settlements,protect vulnerable and undeveloped land and urban form.6.179. Details of each of the designations are contained in the Green Wedge TopicPaper.Policy SSA 23 - Special Landscape AreasSpecial Landscape Areas are identified at the following locations:1. Llanharry Surrounds;2. Talygarn Surrounds;3. Ely Valley at Miskin;4. Coed-yr-Hendy & Mwyndy;5. Llantrisant Surrounds;6. Mynydd y Glyn & Nant Muchudd Basin;7. Mynydd Hugh & Llantrisant Forest;8. Efail Isaf, Garth & Nantgarw Western Slopes;9. Craig yr Allt;10.Taff Vale Eastern Slopes, and11.Treforest Western Slopes.Development within the defined Special Landscape Areas will beexpected to conform to the highest standards of design, siting, layoutand materials appropriate to the character of the area.6.180. Special Landscape Areas (SLAs) have been designated to protect areas offine landscape quality within Rhondda Cynon Taf. The designation of theselandscape areas has been undertaken at local level using a regionallyagreed methodology. The methodology used to identify the SLAs inRhondda Cynon Taf builds on the Countryside Council for Wales LANDMAPmethodology and considers factors such as:• Prominence;• Spectacle – dramatic topography and views;• Unspoilt areas - Pre-industrial patterns of land use;• Remoteness & tranquillity;• Vulnerability & sensitivity to change;• Locally rare landscape;• Setting for special landscapes.6.181. In order to protect the visual qualities of each SLA development proposalswithin these areas will be required to conform to the highest possibledesign standards.6.182. In the Southern Strategy Area SLAs have been identified to protect thedistinctive landscape of the area. Particular consideration has been givento the protection of the unspoilt low lying farmland, common land andgentle valley slopes which form a visual backdrop to the settlements ofthe area.6.183. Details of the SLAs are contained in the Rhondda Cynon Taf SpecialLandscape Area Study (2007).114Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future