Deposit Draft Local Development Plan - Rhondda Cynon Taf

Core Policies4.26. The Core Policies are as follows:Policy CS 1 - Development in the NorthIn the Northern Strategy Area the emphasis will be on buildingstrong, sustainable communities. This will be achieved by:-1. Promoting residential and commercial development inlocations which will support and reinforce the roles ofPrincipal Towns and Key Settlements;2. Providing high quality, affordable accommodation thatpromotes diversity in the residential market;3. Ensuring the removal of dereliction by promoting the reuse ofunder used and derelict land and buildings;4. Promoting large scale regeneration schemes in the PrincipalTown of Aberdare and in the Key Settlements of Mountain Ash,Ferndale and Treorchy;5. Promoting accessibility by securing investment in new roads,public transport improvements, walking and cycling;6. Encouraging a strong, diverse economy which supportstraditional employment and promotes new form ofemployment in the leisure and tourism sectors;7. Protecting the cultural identity of the Strategy Area byprotecting built heritage and the natural environment, and8. Promoting and enhancing transport infrastructure services tosupport growth and investment.4.27. The Northern Strategy Area has suffered significant decline since the widespread closure of the collieries in the South Wales Coalfield in the mid1980’s. The Strategy Area has suffered from high indices of deprivation,unemployment, dereliction, loss of services and inevitably depopulation.A poor internal road network, low house building rates and a lack ofmeaningful inward investment have exacerbated the situation.4.28. The Strategy Area does however, have a strong sense of community pride,many towns and villages with fine architectural history and a spectacularlandscape that rivals that of the adjoining Brecon Beacons National Park.4.29. The LDP will provide a policy framework that seeks to secure regenerationand create sustainable communities in the Northern Strategy Area.Through the provision of new housing, employment opportunities,improvements in accessibility and the implementation of large-scaleregeneration proposals the Council will seek to halt depopulation and theprocess of decline.4.30. The Council recognises that achieving therequirements of this policy at all times maybe difficult. Decisions over priorities willbe made on the basis of evidence ofneed and an assessment of allmaterial considerations.30Preserving Our Heritage, Building Our Future