A BLUEPRINT for housing and economic development in Blaenau Gwent and neighbouring authority Torfaen up to 2041 should be in place by June 2030.
And a call for candidate sites to be part of it is set to be made in the New Year.
Councillors were provided with the timeline for the joint local development plan at a Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, November 4, as they were presented with the Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) delivery agreement.
Earlier this year, Blaenau Gwent councillors agreed to scrap their own replacement LDP in favour of forging a new joint LDP with Torfaen.
The last Blaenau Gwent LDP ended on December 31, 2021, and county borough planners had been working on a new LDP for several years.
Last week, councillors approved the annual monitoring report for the 2012-2021 LDP, which highlighted its failings and showed that only 2,074 dwellings of a target of 3,500 had been built in Blaenau Gwent up to the end of March 2026.
The new JLDP will cover the period up to 2041, explained cabinet member for economic development and place, Cllr John C Morgan (Labour – Georgetown).
Cllr Morgan said: “The delivery agreement is a key statutory document that sets out how the JLDP will be prepared, including the timetable for its production, together with details of how residents, stakeholders and partner organisations will be engaged throughout the process.
“The delivery agreement has been developed following a comprehensive review of both authorities’ existing LDPs and a six-week public consultation undertaken between July and September.
“The JLDP will provide a shared planning framework for Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen up to 2041, guiding future development, housing, infrastructure, environmental protection and place plans across both authorities.”
Cllr Jonathan Millard (non-aligned – Ebbw Vale South) brought up the issue of council sovereignty over the JLDP.
With the local elections looming on the horizon and set to take place next May, it is possible that the next administration in Blaenau Gwent or Torfaen may want to scrap the federation between the councils.
Cllr Millard asked: “Who will have a final say if there is a disagreement with the plan if something needs to change?
“Is it whichever area it’s in, be it Blaenau Gwent or Torfaen, just to ensure that we have on record a definitive answer?”
Joint Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen chief executive Steve Vickers said: “Each council retains its full democratic mandate and responsibility in respect of the plan.
“There may be some complications associated with that if there are disagreements, but it’s important to understand that it always comes back to place.”
Cllr Helen Cunningham (non-aligned – Llanhilleth) said: “I’m pleased to see this.”
She drew her colleagues’ attention to the timetable and specifically the pre-deposit period from June 2027, when engagement on the vision and objectives of the plan is to take place.
Cllr Cunningham said: “This vision is absolutely key for this work and making clear there is a clear vision and one underpinned by values.
“Things like: does it facilitate healthy living, Marmot ambitions, and does it recognise and respond to the housing crisis, in particular the severe lack of social and affordable housing that’s so badly needed?
“Does it respond to climate breakdown and provide employers that embody principles of fair work?
“It will be very interesting to see how all those things feed into the vision for this.”
Blaenau Gwent councillors then went on to vote unanimously to agree the delivery agreement, which has already been agreed by Torfaen councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, November 3.