Latest Planning Policy News
Update August 2025
Consultation Launch: New Gypsy and Traveller Site Needed
Powys County Council is looking for a 1.2-hectare site to accommodate a new gypsy and traveller site in the Welshpool area.
Six potential sites on Council-owned land in Leighton, Forden and Churchstoke have been identified, and the council is seeking views on the potential sites.
The Consultation runs from 1st September 2025 to 22nd October 2025.
Need for the new site, which must accommodate 12 mobile homes and have potential for future expansion, has been identified as part of work on the Replacement Powys Local Development Plan 2022-2037.
Subject to gaining planning permission and available funding the new site is expected to be completed by 2027.
The Council has investigated its own land holdings in the Welshpool vicinity to see if a suitable site may be available on Council-owned land and shortlisted six potential options as search areas.
The Council is now consulting and seeking views on these options to inform the next stages.
- Parcel 1 at Leighton, Welshpool - 7.83 ha - Land opposite Severnleigh/Stables/Coach House/Granary, Leighton
- Parcel 2 at Leighton, Welshpool - 11.39 ha - Land southwest of Severnleigh, Leighton
- Land Holding at Leighton, Welshpool - 47.12 ha - Buildings and land at Gwyns Barn, Leighton
- Parcel 1 at Forden, Welshpool - 2.92 ha - Land adjacent Forden Village - north of Church Farm/Church Farm Close, Forden
- Parcel 2 at Forden, Welshpool - 3.6 ha - Land off C road C2114, South/southwest of Church Farm/Church Farm Close (opposite Pound Fields), Forden
- Land Holding at Churchstoke, Montgomery - 8.26 ha - Land adjacent Churchstoke Village - Fir House land, Churchstoke
A link to the consultation can be found here: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/site-options
The consultation also invites the submission of other (alternative) sites that may be suitable for mobile home pitches to serve the gypsy and traveller community in the Welshpool area.
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Consultation Questions and Answers (PDF, 107 KB)
Update April 2025
Work to prepare a new replacement plan which will guide the scale and location of future new development in the county is continuing, Powys County Council has said.
The Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP), which will cover all of Powys excluding the area within Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (BBNP), will set out the council's proposals and land-use policies for the future development of land in its area.
It will cover the 15-year period up to 2037 and will be used to guide decisions on planning applications once adopted.
The council has been assessing responses from residents, businesses, developers and other stakeholders following the consultation on the Preferred Strategy of the Replacement LDP and, where necessary, revising this initial component of the plan which establishes the overall strategic framework. Any revisions of the strategy will be incorporated into the Deposit Plan.
The council is also continuing to assess the Candidate Sites which have been submitted by site proposers for consideration as housing and employment site allocations. These sites are being assessed and filtered against the published Candidate Site Assessment Methodology (PDF, 738 KB) and the next stage will be to carry out a sustainability appraisal on those sites which have passed the filter process.
The council is now working on the next stage to develop the Preferred Strategy into the comprehensive Deposit Plan, which will contain the detailed policies to inform how development will be managed across Powys. The Deposit Plan will also include the sites identified as being most suitable and deliverable to meet the housing and business needs of the Powys LDP area up to 2037.
Cllr Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys, said: "The Replacement Local Development Plan will be a key document that will guide the scale and location of future development in the county.
"Having had a successful and informative Preferred Strategy consultation, we can move forward with the confidence that the plan's strategy is appropriate for Powys and will be able to deliver sufficient housing stock, support our economy and address the nature and climate emergencies."
Work on the Deposit Plan will be ongoing during spring and summer 2025, with the intention to hold a public consultation in late autumn when residents and stakeholders will have a further opportunity to comment.
To keep informed of ongoing developments in the Replacement LDP preparation process, you can register your interest at https://ldp.powys.gov.uk/register
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