Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/71447937/St-Athan-Development-Brief
Timestamp: 2015-03-30 10:55:06
Document Index: 166995857

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 6', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2']

•    The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is currently promoting the development of the St
Athan site as a major centre of excellence in the economy.
•    The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking to provide a streamlined and more efficient
training programme for the three Services via a Public Private Partnership (PPP)
arrangement under the MoD’s Defence Training Review (DTR).
•    Metrix, in association with the WAG, is bidding to bring a major part of this training
provision to South Wales and the St Athan site.
•    The site at St Athan meets the requirements for delivering a world-class Training Academy
alongside the Welsh Assembly Government and WDA’s proposals to create an Aerospace
•    Redevelopment at St Athan would provide inward investment and local jobs in an area that
has seen recent job losses.
•    The Training Academy and the Aerospace Centre of Excellence can be accommodated on
the St Athan site and would be complementary.
•    Due to the scale of the development being proposed, the proposed Training Academy would
be able to incorporate the recently completed Super-Hangar at St Athan and therefore
maintain a beneficial use for this building.
•    The Training Academy will result in about 4,000 “jobs” being brought to and created on the
site, of which about 2.300 will be civilians employed at the Academy, plus another 1,500
new jobs being created outside the site as a result of indirect or induced employment.
•    St Athan was the largest station in the RAF in terms of personnel from about 1940 to the
end of the millennium and, at its peak, there were 14,000 personnel present on the site,
compared to the 10,000 personnel now proposed for the Training Academy.
•    It has been calculated that the jobs created within the Training Academy, plus the trainees
attending the Academy, will contribute about &#163;58.7 million per annum to the local
economy, whilst additional contributions to the local economy will arise as a result of
indirect employment, visitors, and the aerospace development on the St Athan site.
•    The Training Academy will accommodate the great majority of its living accommodation
within the site, with the provision of 6,700 bedspaces, with a further 2,500 civilian and
military personnel living outside the site, 90% of which will be civilians working at the
•    As a first step in the planning process for both the Training Academy development and the
Aerospace Centre of Excellence, this Development Brief has been produced by Entec UK
Limited on behalf of Metrix, in conjunction with WAG and the Vale of Glamorgan
•   In relation to the Training Academy proposal, the key dates for meeting the MoD’s DTR
- March 2006       Development Brief to be considered by the Vale of
- May 2006         Public Consultation on the Development Brief
- July 2006        Final Development Brief considered by Council
- October 2006     Preferred Bidder Announcement by MoD
- January 2007     Submission of a Planning Application by Metrix for the
proposed Training Academy
- May 2007         Target date for the Planning Application to be considered by
- October 2007     Financial Close on DTR Project with MoD
- January 2008     Commencement on Site
- 2008-2011        Construction on Site
1.   Introduction, Aims and Status                             1
1.1     Introduction                                      1
1.2     The Aim of the Development Brief                  1
1.3     The Status of the Brief                           1
1.4     Aerospace Wales St Athan                          2
1.5     A New Training Academy                            2
1.6     Defence Training Review                           2
1.7     The Public Private Partnership Bids               3
1.8     The Metrix Proposal                               3
1.9     The WAG Proposals                                 3
1.10    The Welsh Assembly Government                     3
2.   Planning Policy Context                                   5
2.1     National Context                                  5
2.2     The Development Plan                              7
2.3     The UDP                                           7
2.3.1   UDP Policy on St Athan                            7
2.3.2   UDP Policies on Economic Development              8
2.3.3   UDP Policy on Sustainable Practices               8
2.3.4   UDP Policy on Transportation                      9
2.3.5   UDP Policy on the Environment                    10
2.3.6   UDP Policies on Housing                          12
2.3.7   UDP Policies on Sport and Recreation             13
2.3.8   UDP Policy on Waste Management                   14
2.3.9   UDP Policy on Community and Utility Services     14
2.4     Supplementary Planning Guidance                  15
2.5     The Local Development Plan                       15
2.6     Local Transport Plan                             16
2.7     Vale of Glamorgan Community Strategy 2003-2013   16
3.   Site Information                                         18
3.1     The Area                                                18
3.2     Brief History of St Athan                               18
3.3     WAG Involvement with St Athan                           19
3.4     Occupation of the Existing Site at St Athan             21
3.5     The Aerodrome                                           22
3.6     Road Transport Routes to St Athan                       22
3.7     Existing Access into the Site                           23
3.8     Public Transport                                        23
3.9     Cardiff International Airport                           24
3.10    Planning History                                        24
4.   Requirements for the Training Academy                           25
4.1     Introduction                                            25
4.2     Site Population                                         25
4.3     Floorspace Requirements                                 27
4.4     Service Families Accommodation (SFA)                    28
5.   The Proposals                                                   29
5.1     Introduction                                            29
5.2     The Design Process                                      29
5.2.1   Inception Phase                                         29
5.2.2   Policy Review                                           29
5.2.3   Consultation with Partners and Stakeholders             30
5.2.4   Context and Site Appraisal                              30
5.2.5   Visioning                                               30
5.2.6   Objectives and Targets                                  30
5.2.7   Future Proofing                                         31
5.2.8   Design Development                                      31
5.3     High Quality Design                                     31
5.4     The Various Elements of the St Athan Site               32
5.5     Access into the St Athan Site                           33
5.6     Access around the Training Academy Site                 33
5.7     The Super Hangar                                        33
5.8     Living Accommodation and Associated Uses for the
Proposed Academy                                        34
5.9     Service Families Accommodation (SFA) Proposals          34
5.10    Sports and Recreation Areas for the Proposed Training
Academy                                                 36
5.11   Circulation and Transport within the Academy Site   37
5.12   Aerospace Centre of Excellence                      37
6.   Impact Assessment and Mitigation Proposals                 38
6.1    Transportation                                      38
6.2    Hydrology                                           39
6.3    Flood Risk                                          39
6.4    Landscape and Visual Impact                         40
6.5    Ecology                                             40
6.6    Treescape                                           42
6.7    Cultural Heritage and Archaeology                   42
6.8    Land Quality                                        43
6.9    Agricultural Land                                   43
6.10   Noise and Vibration                                 44
6.11   Air Quality and Dust Appraisal                      44
6.12   Economic Impact                                     44
6.13   Housing Impact                                      45
6.14   Service Infrastructure in General                   45
6.15   Natural Gas Distribution                            46
6.16   Potable Water Main and Supply                       46
6.17   Fire Main                                           46
6.18   Foul Water Drainage                                 46
6.19   Sewage Treatment Works                              47
6.20   Surface Water Drainage                              47
6.21   Electricity Supply                                  47
6.22   Telecommunications                                  47
7.   Planning Requirements                                      49
7.1    Introduction                                        49
7.2    Planning Obligations                                49
7.3    Planning Conditions                                 50
8.   Planning Application Programme                             52
8.1    Planning Application Programme                      52
Table 2.1   UDP Policies on Economic Development                     8
Table 2.2   UDP Policies on Sustainable Practices                    8
Table 2.3   UDP Policies on Transportation                           9
Table 2.4   UDP Policies on the Environment                         10
Table 2.5   UDP Policies on Housing                                 12
Table 2.6   UDP Policies on Sport and Recreation                    13
Table 2.2   UDP Policies on Waste Management                        14
Table 2.2   UDP Policies on Community and Utility Services          14
Table 4.1   Site Population Figures for St Athan Training Academy   26
Table 4.2   Floorspace Requirements for St Athan Training Academy   27
Table 4.3   Service Families Accommodation Demand Analysis          28
Table 8.1   Planning Application Programme                          52
1.        Introduction, Aims and Status
This Development Brief has been produced by Entec UK Limited for Metrix, the developer of
the proposed Training Academy, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG),
the landowners of the development site, and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the local planning
authority. Metrix is a consortium of companies that has been formed to bid to the Ministry of
Defence (MoD) for delivery of part of the Defence Training Review (DTR). The DTR project
is a &#163;14 billion Public Private Partnership initiative by the MoD. The PPP Bid to the MoD is
supported by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) as complementary to the proposed
Aerospace Centre of Excellence at St Athan, in accordance with National Government
aerospace policy.
In order to prepare and progress this Development Brief, a series of working groups has been
established under a joint steering group consisting of Vale of Glamorgan officers, and
representatives of WAG, Education and Learning Wales (ELWa), and Metrix, These Working
Groups have been meeting regularly and have discussed planning, transportation, training, and
quality of life issues in the context of the St Athan proposals.
1.2       The Aim of the Development Brief
The Development Brief is designed to provide a framework for the future development of the
St Athan site. The Brief meets a number of aims:
•    To outline the proposals for the St Athan site;
•    To confirm the relationship of the Training Academy and the Aerospace Wales proposals on
the St Athan site;
•    To provide a basis for the consideration of any future planning application(s) for the St
Athan site.
1.3       The Status of the Brief
In accordance with the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s protocol for preparing development briefs,
the St Athan Development Brief has been formally considered by the Council’s Cabinet,
relevant Committees and full Council. Following Cabinet’s approval of the Draft Brief a public
consultation exercise was undertaken, the results of which were reported back to the Council’s
Cabinet, relevant Committees and full Council in July 2006. As a result of the consultation
process, a number of minor changes were made to the Development Brief. The Development
Brief is now adopted for development control purposes and as a consequence forms a significant
material consideration in the determination of any future planning application(s) for the site.
1.4       Aerospace Wales St Athan
The site at St Athan has been promoted by WAG, under the title of “Aerospace Wales St
Athan”, as a Centre of Excellence that is able to build upon the skilled workforce that already
exists in the area. The WAG have consistently supported the aim of regenerating St Athan in
order to bring forward what is the principal aerospace development opportunity in Wales. The
aim of the regeneration is to:
•   Retain and grow jobs within the sector and increase engineering skills;
•   Retain the military airfield as a valued asset; and
•   Support the aerospace and training sectors in Wales.
The loss of St Athan would have a serious adverse impact on the aerospace and training sectors,
in SE Wales, in Wales generally and in the UK as a whole. The recently announced demise of
the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) has accelerated the need to identify and
successfully encourage development opportunities at St Athan. The WAG completed the
acquisition of a 125-year lease of RAF St Athan on 14 August 2003.
1.5      A New Training Academy
As part of the delivery of DTR, Metrix is proposing that a new military Training Academy is
built at St Athan, alongside the Aerospace Wales development. The Training Academy is to be
called “St Athan Park” in recognition of the fact that the new development is based on the
concept of a landscaped layout that incorporates significant open space. The development aims
to be a major departure from the traditional military establishment, with a view to setting new
high quality standards for a world-class training and teaching facility.
1.6      Defence Training Review
Under the Defence Training Review (DTR) Rationalisation Programme, the MoD intends to
modernise and rationalise elements of the present tri-Service specialist training programme.
Currently, specialist training is provided from more than 40 different sites located across the
United Kingdom (UK) and, in many cases, on a single Service basis. As a consequence, many
of the current training schools are small and inefficient in a situation where there is overlap with
the training needs of the three Services.
The WAG recognise DTR as a major opportunity for both Wales and the St Athan site. The
DTR proposals complement the WAG’S aerospace development aspirations for the site.
Indeed, when DTR was first announced by the MoD, the WAG formed part of a bidding
consortium with the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) and private sector partners in
order to promote St Athan as a suitable location for the DTR proposals. Whilst this original
partnership was selected by the MoD in 2003, the partnership subsequently withdrew from the
competition. The WAG is now supporting the Metrix bid on DTR.
1.7      The Public Private Partnership Bids
Under the DTR Rationalisation Programme, the MoD is seeking the successful bidder(s) to
provide a streamlined and more efficient training programme for the three Services via a Public
Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. In preparation for the Bids, the DTR team produced a
“Public Sector Comparator” to help assess the bidders’ proposals for value for money, based
upon six benchmark solutions. The six training streams have been arranged into two Packages
for the purpose of letting the eventual contracts. Invitations to Tender were issued to the short-
list of bidders in November 2004 and the Bids were submitted to the MoD as two separate
elements (Package 1 and Package 2) on the 17 October and 14 November 2005. Metrix was one
of those bidders and the only bidder for both Packages.
1.8      The Metrix Proposal
Only Metrix as a DTR bidder has proposed that the site at St Athan be used to accommodate a
new Training Academy. It is proposed that the Academy be built adjacent to the aerospace
development proposals by WAG. Metrix has identified the St Athan site, in co-operation with
WAG, as capable of providing the major part of the training provision under the DTR
Rationalisation Programme. St Athan is seen as the one site in the UK that could deliver the
efficiencies being sought by the MoD. In addition, Metrix recognises the many advantages and
strengths which the St Athan site offers in being able to provide a modern and efficient new
Training Academy on a site which historically has been at the forefront of providing training
and a skilled workforce for the Royal Air Force.
1.9      The WAG Proposals
In supporting the Training Academy proposals at St Athan, the WAG proposes aerospace
development for both civilian and military work, such as the privatised VC10 work and any
displaced airside military occupiers, which may include the University of Wales Air Squadron
and the Volunteer Glider School. These uses would be able to be accommodated on land
alongside the Training Academy and with direct access onto the existing runway.
As with the Training Academy, the WAG’s proposal for the aerospace park will be of
significant benefit to the economy of Wales generally and to that of the local area in particular.
In addition to jobs created directly by firms developing at St Athan, there would also be new
training opportunities and spin-offs for the local economy and supply chains located elsewhere
in Wales. The proposals at St Athan would build upon the cluster of aviation-related businesses
in South Wales, complementing, for example, those already in existence at Talbot Green
(British Airways Avionics), Nantgarw (GE Aircraft Engine Services), and Cardiff International
Airport (British Airways Maintenance).
1.10 The Welsh Assembly Government
The WDA were fully merged into the Welsh Assembly Government on 1 April 2006, although
all the existing functions of the WDA are continuing in the new combined organisation and
there has been no disruption to progress on the plans for either the proposed Training Academy
or Aerospace Wales. On Wednesday, 9 November 2005, in a Statement on the future of St
Athan, Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Minister for Economic Development &amp; Transport,
“The Welsh Assembly Government and Team Wales will continue to work to secure a strong
future for St Athan. We will work in close partnership with the MoD and the private sector to
attract new high-value developments and investment to the site. St Athan offers a world-class
workforce with facilities to match. We have every confidence in its ability to prosper and
develop, and this is the very least that the DARA workforce in South Wales deserves.”
2.        Planning Policy Context
2.1       National Context
The Wales Spatial Plan sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s vision for Wales. In the
Wales Spatial Plan, the site at St Athan is located within the South East – The Capital Network
Region. The Assembly’s overall vision for the area is:
“An innovative skilled area offering a high quality of life – international yet distinctively Welsh.
It will compete internationally by increasing its global visibility through stronger links between
the Valleys and the coast and with the UK and Europe, helping to spread prosperity within the
area and benefiting other parts of Wales.”
More specifically the Assembly aims to,
“Establish the potential and requirement for housing and employment within the area.”
The Wales Spatial Plan recognises the coastal zone as the main economic driver and that its
competitiveness needs to be sustained to help raise the economic potential of the rest of the
nation. The Plan proposes that the area should function as an overall networked city-region in
order to realise its full potential and that an integrated transport system will be a crucial part of
The Wales Spatial Strategy, “People, Places, Futures”, November 2004, provides a vision for
South East Wales which is reproduced at Appendix B.
National planning policy is set out in “Planning Policy Wales”, March 2002, Technical Advice
Notes (TANs). The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to sustainable development and
“Planning Policy Wales” sets out the Assembly’s main objectives:
•    Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
•    Effective protection of the environment;
•    Prudent use of natural resources;
•    The maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.
“Planning Policy Wales” also sets out a preference for the re-use of previously developed land,
which is defined as “that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, excluding
agricultural or forestry buildings and associated fixed surface infrastructure.” A large part of
the St Athan site represents previously developed land in terms of this definition.
“Planning Policy Wales” also sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to
building a modern economy for Wales that will have a “broader economic base that provides
job opportunities for all and where greater use of modern technology redresses the problems of
access and peripherality.” The Welsh Assembly Government’s economic development
•   Enhance the economic success of both urban areas and the countryside, helping businesses to
maximise their competitiveness;
•   Support initiative and avoid placing unnecessary burdens on enterprise;
•   Respect and encourage diversity in the local economy, for example, in rural areas
encouraging farm diversification and in urban areas promoting mixed use development;
•   Promote the exploitation of new technologies which can provide new opportunities; and
•   Ensure that development for enterprise and employment users is in line with sustainability
principles, respecting the environment in its location, scale and design.
The Technical Advice Notes (TANs).          TANs considered to be of most relevant to the
Development Brief are:
•   TAN 2 Planning and Affordable Housing - 1996
•   TAN 5 Nature Conservation and Planning - 1996
•   TAN 8 Renewable Energy - 2005
•   TAN 11 Noise - 1997
•   TAN 12 Design 2002
•   TAN 15 Development and Flood Risk - 2004
•   TAN 16 Sport and Recreation - 1998
•   TAN 18 Transport - 1998
•   TAN 18 Transport - 1998 pt.1
•   TAN 18 Transport - 1998 pt.2
•   TAN 21 Waste
Of particular importance is TAN12 on Design states in respect of Development Briefs:
“Development or planning briefs to explain how UDP policies should apply to a specific site
The guidance should:
•   Set out the vision for a development;
•   Be informed by the site and context appraisal;
•   State its objective(s) and show how the UDP design policies could be applied to the site;
•   Provide basic area and site appraisal, including site constraints and opportunities, soil
conditions and infrastructure, existing transport and access;
•   Set out the proposed movement patterns, uses, areas, mix of tenures, development densities
and other relevant design objectives; and
•   Inspire a high quality of design and take account of consultation undertaken.
Guidance can be illustrated by concept diagrams, building envelope guidelines and three
dimensional sketches of building forms and spaces. Prescriptive design and any suggestion of a
particular style should be avoided.”
TAN 12 on Design advises that the eventual planning application for a development which has
design implications, including infrastructure and changes to landscape appearance, should be
accompanied by a planning application Design Statement, which should explain:
•   The design principles and design concept;
•   How these are reflected in the development’s location, layout, density, scale, detailed design
and landscape;
•   How the design relates to the site and its wider context; and
•   How the development will meet UDP design policies and SPG requirements.
Relevant design issues will be addressed in a Design Statement accompanying a future planning
2.2       The Development Plan
The development plan for the Vale of Glamorgan is the Vale of Glamorgan Unitary
Development Plan (UDP) (1996 – 2011) which was formally adopted on the 18th April 2005.
Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 states that:
“If regard is to be had to the development plan for the purpose of any determination to
be made under the planning Acts, the determination must be made in accordance with
the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise”.
2.3       The Vale of Glamorgan UDP
2.3.1  UDP Policy on St Athan
The UDP contains a specific policy on St Athan (EMP 10).
FURTHER APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTS IN RESPECT OF RAF ACTIVITY WITHIN
THE RAF ST. ATHAN BASE WILL BE FAVOURED PROVIDED THERE IS NO
UNACCEPTABLE IMPACT ON LOCAL AMENITY.
The supporting text to Policy EMP 10 states:
5.4.53 The RAF Base at St. Athan provides an important source of employment for the local
economy. Appropriate expansion, within the boundaries shown on the Proposal Map, will be
supported, subject to environmental considerations.
Whilst UDP Policy EMP 10 refers to “RAF activity” within the site, DARA was created in 1999
and The WAG completed the acquisition of a lease in 2003. The WAG has plans for creating
an Aeronautical Business Park on the St Athan site which will involve the redevelopment and
expansion of the overall site.
2.3.2       UDP Policies on Economic Development
Table 2.1       UDP Policies on Economic Development
Adopted Vale of Glamorgan UDP 2005 Policy                           Relevance to St Athan Development Brief
Policy EMP 2 – Proposals for new business and industrial          Policy EMP 2 will apply to the details of future
development will be permitted subject to specified criteria       development in connection with the aerospace proposals
being met.                                                        at St Athan, which is on the existing airfield of previously
developed land and where the proposals will accord with
Policy EMP 3 – Development will be permitted for B2 use           Policy EMP 3 will apply to the details of future
(general industry) where the proposals comply with                development in connection with the aerospace proposals
specified criteria.                                               at St Athan, which is on the existing airfield of previously
Policy EMP 4 – Development other than B1 business, B2             The existing employment areas at St Athan will be
general industry and B8 storage or distribution will not be       protected and enhanced in accordance with the
permitted on existing employment sites.                           Development Brief proposals.
Policy EMP 5 - Developments involving hazardous                   The details of any elements of either the aerospace
substances will be permitted if the proposal is in                business park or the training academy which may involve
accordance with certain specified criteria, including             any hazardous substances will take into account the
avoiding creating an unacceptable risk for health, safety,        specified criteria.
environmental impact, water resources, amenity, the
character of the area, and protected areas.
Policy EMP 6 – Development will not be permitted which            The Training Academy proposals will not cause
is likely to cause unacceptable pollution or hazards to           unacceptable pollution or hazards to the aerospace
adjacent uses.                                                    business park, although uses on the business park will
need to have regard to some of the more sensitive uses
on the academy site, such as living and teaching areas,
although such potential impacts will be minimised by the
design and specification standards that the academy will
be constructed to.
2.3.3       UDP Policy on Sustainable Practices
Table 2.2       UDP Policies on Sustainable Practices
Policy 2 - Proposals which encourage sustainable                   The proposals for both the aerospace business park and
practices will be favoured including energy conservation          the training academy will incorporate sustainable practices
and efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, pollution          such as energy conservation and efficiency, waste
control, biodiversity and the conservation of natural             reduction and recycling, pollution control, biodiversity and
resources, minimising the need to travel, and high                the conservation of natural resources, minimising the need
standards of design.                                              to travel, and high standards of design.
2.3.4       UDP Policy on Transportation
Table 2.3        UDP Policies on Transportation
Adopted Vale of Glamorgan UDP 2005 Policy                            Relevance to St Athan Development Brief
Policy 8 - Developments will be favoured in locations              The St Athan site has access to new and excellent rail
which are highly accessible by means of travel other than          services that are likely to continue to expand and improve.
the private car and which minimise traffic levels.                 Bus services will also be significantly enhanced by the
scheme for the area. The self-sufficient nature of the
Training Academy is such that the majority will be living on
the site and use the services and facilities within the site
Policy TRAN 1 – Land is protected for the airport access           The access road will also improve access to St Athan from
road.                                                              the M4 Motorway.
Policy TRAN 2 - land will be protected and provision made          The Llysworney Bypass scheme will relieve the village of
for the construction of Llysworney bypass, Gileston Old            heavy lorry movements from the industrial estates at
Mill, Boverton relief road, and other schemes.                     Llandow that use the B4270 for access to the A48.
A section of the B4265 road between St. Athan and
Aberthaw has a sharp bend and the Gileston Old Mill
scheme will improve both the horizontal and vertical
alignments of the highway at this section.
The Boverton Relief Road will provide a new more direct
route into Boverton from the Llantwit Major By-Pass where
a narrow sharp corner currently exists.
Policy TRAN 3 – The reopening of the Vale of Glamorgan             The line reopened in 2005 and stations exist at Llantwit
railway line to passenger services.                                Major and Rhoose.
Policy TRAN 4 - Rail stations should include interchange           Llantwit Major and Rhoose railway station provides
between rail and other modes, including car, bus and               modern interchange and Park-and-Ride facilities.
Policy TRAN 7 – Land will be protected and provision               The bus services in and around the St Athan site will be
made for the development of facilities for bus operations          enhanced by the proposal and the infrastructure improved
including between the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend.              in connection with providing dedicated bus services
between the site and the surrounding areas, including the
Policy TRAN 8 – Land will be protected and provision               Access into and around the St Athan site and
made for cycle routes including links with the national and        development within the site will take account of the need
local cycle network and the provision of cycle parking             to accommodate cyclists and cycling.
Policy TRAN 9 – Parking provision will be related to the           Parking provision will be in accordance with the approved
type of land use, its density and location, accessibility to       parking guidelines, bearing in mind the special
existing and potential public transport facilities, and the        circumstances surrounding the Defence Training
capacity of the highway network.                                   Academy.
One of the aims of the UDP is to seek to stem the daily out migration of commuters in order to
reduce travel distances, bearing in mind that many residents in the Vale of Glamorgan travel to
Bridgend and Cardiff for employment. As a consequence, all the development plan allocations
that would help generate additional employment within the Vale of Glamorgan seek to allow
existing businesses and new inward investment to develop in order to provide more locally-
based employment. The development of the St Athan site is able to make a significant
contribution towards that UDP objective.
2.3.5       UDP Policy on the Environment
Table 2.4       UDP Policies on the Environment
Adopted Vale of Glamorgan UDP 2005 Policy                          Relevance to St Athan Development Brief
Policy ENV 1 – Within the countryside, permission will           The Training Academy proposals include recreational
only be granted for development requiring a rural location,      uses, whilst the bulk of the building development
appropriate recreational use, the re-use or adaptation of        associated with the aerospace business park and the
existing buildings, and development under other policies.        Training Academy is on the existing airfield and previously
Policy ENV2 – The best and most versatile agricultural           The proposals at St Athan are predominantly on non-
land (grades 1, 2 and 3a) will be protected from                 agricultural land, but those parts of the development that
irreversible development, save where overriding need can         extend on to agricultural land where surveys have been
be demonstrated. Non agricultural land or land of a lower        undertaken are on grade 3b.
quality should be used when development is proposed,
unless such land has a statutory landscape, nature
conservation, historic or archaeological designation which
outweighs agricultural considerations.
Policy ENV 4 – New development within or closely related         The SLA lies to the east of Cowbridge Road and only
to the following Special Landscape Areas (SLA) will be           those parts of the site to the east of this road are within
permitted where it can be demonstrated that it would not         the SLA. These are the sports and recreational facilities
adversely effect the landscape character, landscape              and an outdoor defence training area.
features or visual amenities of the SLA.
Policy ENV 5 - The special environmental qualities of the        The St Athan site is outside, but close to, the inland
Glamorgan Heritage Coast will be conserved and                   boundary of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
enhanced, and treated as a remote zone with priority
being given to agriculture, landscape and nature
Policy ENV 7 – River, other inland waters and                    The detailed proposals will be designed to ensure that the
underground water resources will be safeguarded.                 development will not be at risk from flooding, or increase
Development will be permitted where it would not have an         the risk of flooding elsewhere. The underground water
unacceptable effect on the quality or quantity of water          resources will be safeguarded and improved through
resources, or on the amenity interests related to such           current remediation measures on the site.
waters, or be potentially at risk from flooding, or increase
Policy ENV 10 - Measures to maintain and improve the             The proposals will include major landscaping of the area
countryside, its features and resources will be favoured,        in contrast to the very open and exposed appearance of
particularly in the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, areas of           the existing airfield. The St Athan site is outside, but close
high quality landscape, and areas subject to development         to, the inland boundary of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
pressure and/or conflict such as the urban fringe.
Policy ENV 11 – Development will be permitted if it does         The proposals are largely contained on the existing airfield
not unacceptably affect features of importance to                and previously developed land, but where features of
landscape or nature conservation, including, trees,              importance to landscape and nature conservation are
woodland, hedgerows, river corridors, ponds, stone walls         present, development will seek to avoid and
and species rich grasslands.                                     accommodate such features to ensure that no features
are unacceptably affected. New ponds will be created
around the site as part of nature conservation measures
and enhancement that is planned for the site.
Policy ENV 12 - The improvement, management and                  The development proposals will result in extensive
extension of woodland, tree cover and hedgerows,                 landscaping across the site and the creation of a “St Athan
particularly of broadleaf native species, will be favoured,      Park” within the Training Academy. The detailed
proposals will aim to makes a significant improvement to
the landscape on and around the airfield, help to diversify
and extend wildlife habitats, and add to recreational and
Policy ENV 13 – International sites which are designated        There are no international sites which are designated or
or potential ramsar sites, special protection areas or          potential ramsar sites, special protection areas or special
special areas of conservation will be protected and             areas of conservation, but careful regard will be had to
development likely to have an adverse effect on such sites      any possible effects that might be caused as a
will not normally be permitted.                                 consequence of the proposals and any necessary
mitigation measures that may be required at the detailed
Policy ENV 14 – Development likely to have an adverse           There is no national site of nature conservation
effect on the conservation value of a national nature           importance designated on the site, but careful regard will
reserve, or a site of special scientific interest, will not     be had to any possible effects that might be caused as a
normally be permitted.                                          consequence of the proposals and any necessary
Policy ENV 15 – Development and land use change likely          There are no non-statutory designated sites for nature
to have an unacceptable effect on a local nature reserve,       conservation within the site boundary. There are,
a regionally important geological / geomorphological site,      however, a number of non-statutory designated sites in
or a site shown to be of importance for nature                  the wider area, known as candidate Sites of Importance
conservation will not normally be permitted.                    for Nature Conservation (cSINCs), If development is
permitted, appropriate conditions or agreed planning
obligations will be used to ensure the impact on nature
conservation is minimised.
Policy ENV 16 – Permission will only be given for               Three emergency water supply tanks located on the
development that would cause harm to or threaten the            airfield support a breeding population of great crested
continued viability of a protected species if it can be         newts which will need to be captured and translocated in
clearly demonstrated that there are exceptional                 order to accommodate the Training Academy
circumstances that justify the proposals, there is no           development. In addition a number of surrounding ponds,
satisfactory alternative, and effective mitigation measures     including Batslays farm on the south side of the airfield,
are provided by the developer.                                  also support great crested newts. The capture and
translocation of the great crested newts will require a
licence from the Welsh Assembly. An agreed mitigation
strategy is currently being devised for the site with the
Countryside Council for Wales which will involve the
creation of ponds suitable for the translocation of the
newts. This policy will also be complied with in respect of
any other protected species affected by the proposals.
Policy ENV 17 - The environmental qualities of the built        There are some listed buildings around the site but no
and historic environment will be protected and                  conservation areas, scheduled ancient monuments, sites
development which has a detrimental effect on the special       of archaeological and/or historic interest, or historic parks
character, appearance or setting of listed buildings,           and gardens.. The Training Academy proposals include,
conservation areas, scheduled ancient monuments, sites          subject to the agreement of the landowners, the
of archaeological and/or historic interest, and historic        incorporation and restoration of the old and derelict church
parks and gardens will not be permitted.                        building on the south side of Eglwys Brewis Road. The
idea would be to restore this listed building and its setting
as part of the Training Academy proposals so that the
building is provided with a beneficial use that will secure it
Policy ENV 18 – Where development is likely to affect a         There are no designated Scheduled Monuments on the
known or suspected site of archaeological significance, an      site. There is some potential for the presence of further
archaeological evaluation should be carried out at the          features within previously undisturbed parts of the site. It
earliest opportunity and may be required before the             will therefore be necessary for further development to be
proposal is determined.                                         preceded by appropriate archaeological investigation, in
consultation with the Glamorgan/Gwent Archaeological
Trust and the Local Planning Authority, in order to ensure
that any further features can be appropriately recorded.
Policy ENV 19 – Where development is permitted which            Should any archaeological features of importance be
affects a site of archaeological importance, archaeological     discovered on the site, either preservation will be ensured,
mitigation measures will be required to ensure                  or the feature will be recorded prior to disturbance.
preservation on site or adequate recording prior to
Policy ENV 24 - Open spaces which are important for            The proposals will create a network of green spaces and
amenity, recreation and/or nature of conservation should       appropriate tree planting and landscaping schemes within
be conserved and enhanced and a network of green               the development, including conserving, enhancing and
spaces and appropriate tree planting and landscaping           creating open spaces which are, or will be, important for
schemes created.                                               amenity, recreation and/or nature of conservation.
Policy ENV 26 - The redevelopment of contaminated land         The WDA has confirmed that remediation work will have
and unstable land will be permitted where the                  been completed prior to construction commencing on site.
contamination and/or instability will be removed or            The MoD has also indicated that the site is free of
reduced to a level where there is no unacceptable risk to      munitions. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure
health, safety and the environment.                            the removal of contaminants and munitions from the site,
a watching brief will be undertaken during construction in
order to certify that any discoveries are safely removed
and do not cause delays to the construction programme.
Policy ENV 27 – Proposals for new development must             The detailed proposals for the site will be accompanied by
have full regard to the context of the local, natural and      a design and access statement. The aim of the proposals
built environment and its special features and new             will be to significantly enhance the site with its buildings
development will be permitted where it meets specified         and open spaces, provide appropriate amenities and
criteria.                                                      facilities, provide adequate provision for waste
management, minimises any detrimental impact on
adjacent areas, provide new soft and hard landscaping
features, provide for public transport, cyclists, pedestrians
and people with impaired mobility, have regard to energy
efficiency in design, layout, materials and technology, and
have regard to crime prevention.
Policy ENV 28 - Development open to the public and             The proposals will incorporate measures and details that
buildings used for employment and education purposes           will provide for people with mobility difficulties.
will be required to provide suitable access for customers,
visitors or employees with mobility difficulties.
Policy ENV 29 – Development will not be permitted if it        Proposals on the site will need to avoid an unacceptable
would be liable to have an unacceptable effect on either       level of pollutants being released into water, soil or air,
people’s health and safety, or the environment.                either on or off site, or from smoke, fumes, gases, dust,
smell, noise, vibration, light, or other polluting emissions.
2.3.6       UDP Policies on Housing
Table 2.5       UDP Policies on Housing
Adopted Vale of Glamorgan UDP 2005 Policy                        Relevance to St Athan Development Brief
Policy HOUS 2 - Housing infill, small-scale development        Service families accommodation is required as affordable
and redevelopment which meets the criteria listed in           housing for key workers at the Training Academy. The
Policy HOUS 9 will be permitted within certain specified       exact requirement and how it may be delivered will not be
urban and rural settlements, including the urban               known until the time of construction. However, there is
settlement of Llantwit Major and the rural settlements of      potential to provide such housing in the form of a new
St. Athan, Eglwys Brewis, Llanmaes, and Rhoose.                housing estate close to St Athan is indicated in the Brief
on land to the north of St Athan village, adjacent to the
Favourable consideration will also be given, outside green     existing housing estate at Flemingston Road. The site
wedges, to small-scale development which constitutes the       has housing to the north and west, with open countryside
“rounding off” of the edge of settlement boundaries where      to the south and east, and includes the area between the
it can be shown to be consistent with the provisions of        existing housing estate and the western boundary of the
Policy HOUS 9 and particularly criterion (i).                  Special Landscape Area.
Policy HOUS 3 - The erection of dwellings in the
countryside will not be permitted unless such
developments can be justified in the interests of
Policy HOUS 8 - Subject to the provisions of Policy
HOUS 2, development will be permitted which is within or
closely related to the defined settlement boundaries
provided that it meets all the criteria of the policy.
Policy HOUS 13 – In the case of an identified local need
for affordable housing, the development of a limited
number of additional sites will be permitted if all the policy
2.3.7        UDP Policies on Sport and Recreation
Table 2.6        UDP Policies on Sport and Recreation
Policy REC 2 - The council favours proposals which result          The Training Academy proposals involve the provision of
in wider use by the community of existing recreational             significant new sport and recreation facilities, which will be
facilities in order to meet the recreational needs of the          designed and made available to the wider community
plan area.                                                         wherever possible and where compatible with security
Policy REC 3 – Within residential development, open                The identified potential site to the north of St Athan village,
space at a standard of 2.43 hectares per 1,000 projected           adjacent to the existing housing estate at Flemingston
population will be sought in accordance with the following         Road, is able to provide open space as appropriate in
guidelines:                                                        connection with Policy REC 3 and 6.
Children’s playing space – 0.6 – 0.8 hectares per 1000
Outdoor sport – 1.6 – 1.8 hectares per 1000 projected
In assessing the requirements of individual developments
the open space sought will be assessed in the light of
existing provision in the locality.
Policy REC 4 - Recreation proposals which include                  The Training Academy proposals will include recreation
provision for the needs of the disabled and elderly will be        provision for the needs of the disabled and the elderly as
favoured.                                                          appropriate.
Policy REC 6 – Children’s play facilities will be in new           The identified potential site to the north of St Athan village,
development at a standard of 0.2 – 0.3 hectares per 1000           adjacent to the existing housing estate at Flemingston
projected population (this provision falling within the            Road, is able to provide open space as appropriate in
requirements for children’s playing space 0.6 – 0.8                connection with Policy REC 3 and 6.
hectares per 1,000 projected population as set out in
policy REC 3).
Policy REC 7 – Proposals for new sport and leisure                 In connection with the proposals for new sport and leisure
facilities outside existing town and district centres will be      facilities associated with the Training Academy:
permitted if all of the criteria specified in the policy are
met.                                                               (i) the proposals will not undermine the vitality, viability
and attractiveness of town or district centres or proposed
developments at Barry Waterfront;
(ii) the proposals are an integral part of the academy site
and its security and there are no suitable town, district or
edge of centre sites and in the case of out of town / district
proposals, there are no suitable town, district, edge of
centre or out of centre sites (the sequential test);
(iii) the proposals will not have an unacceptable effect on
the achievement of an acceptable supply of business /
industrial land as identified in policies EMP 1 and 2;
(iv) the proposals will be well connected to the main road
network and public transport bus services in order to meet
the needs of the non car traveller;
(v) the highway network is capable of accommodating the
traffic generated by the proposal without an unacceptable
effect on traffic flows and patterns, safety, energy use or
other emissions;
(vi) the proposals will meet the Council’s approved parking
(vii) adequate utility services exist, are reasonably
accessible, or can be readily and economically provided;
(viii) the proposals do not result in the loss of grades 1, 2
or 3a agricultural land or have an unacceptable effect on
areas of archaeological, ecological or wildlife importance
or landscape protection; and
(ix) the proposals will have no unacceptable effect on the
amenity and character of existing or neighbouring
environments by virtue of noise, traffic congestion,
exacerbation of parking problems or visual intrusion.
Policy REC 12 – The Council will be maintaining and          The disused railway line between Aberthaw and
improving existing public rights of way and land will be     Cowbridge runs outside, but adjacent to, the Development
protected and provision made for the establishment of        Brief site and therefore does not affect the recreational
routes as a framework for a network of linkages for the      route.
enjoyment of the countryside, including the development
of the disused railway line between Aberthaw / Cowbridge
/ Pontyclun, including the provision of a cycle route.
2.3.8       UDP Policy on Waste Management
Table 2.2      UDP Policies on Waste Management
Adopted Vale of Glamorgan UDP 2005 Policy                      Relevance to St Athan Development Brief
Policy 13 - Development proposals which encourage            The proposals will encourage sustainable principles for
sustainable principles for waste disposal based on a         waste disposal based on (i) waste minimisation /
hierarchical approach of will be favoured.                   avoidance; (ii) re-use of water; (iii) waste re-cycling or
recovery; and (iv) waste disposal landfill with minimal
2.3.9       UDP Policy on Community and Utility Services
Table 2.2      UDP Policies on Community and Utility Services
Policy COMM 5 and 6 – The UDP contains policies for         The proposals will incorporate renewable energy features
renewable energy schemes, including proposals for        as appropriate and in accordance with Policies COMM 5
individual wind generators.                              and COMM 6.
2.4              Supplementary Planning Guidance
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has produced a number of documents that provide non-
statutory Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on a number of issues. The approved SPGs
•   Amenity Standards
•   Trees and Development
•   Affordable Housing
•   Model Design Guide for Wales – Residential Development
•   Parking Standards
•   Sustainable Development
Other SPG that the Vale of Glamorgan Council intends to approve include:
•   Planning Obligations
•   Access for Disabled People
•   Public Art
•   Design in the Landscape
2.5              The Local Development Plan
The Vale of Glamorgan Council will be preparing a new development plan for its area which
will be referred to as the Local Development Plan (LDP).
The LDP is to be prepared under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act
2004, which received Royal Assent on the 13th May, 2004. Part 6 of the Act contains clauses
specific to Wales that set out the framework of the new LDPs. These new plans will replace the
existing Unitary Development Plans.
In accordance with the new powers under the Act, the National Assembly for Wales has
published the Town and Country Planning (Local Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations
2005, which set down the statutory procedures for Local Planning Authorities when preparing
and adopting their LDPs.
The first step in the new process will be the preparation by each Local Planning Authority of a
Delivery Agreement (DA), which will set out the timetable for the adoption of their LDP. The
Vale of Glamorgan Council’s DA was presented to Council in July 2006. Each Authority is
required to submit its DA to the Welsh Assembly Government by 31st July 2006.
Once the DA has been agreed by the Welsh Assembly Government, the Council will commence
work on the LDP, which will consist of the following stages, as prescribed in the Regulations.
Pre-deposit participation on the LDP;
•   Pre-deposit public consultation;
•   Making and consideration of representations;
•   Deposit of LDP proposals;
•   Representations on site allocation representations;
•   Submission of the deposit LDP to the National Assembly for Wales for Examination;
•   Publication of the recommendations of the person appointed to carry out the Examination;
•   Adoption of the LDP by the Local Planning Authority.
The Vale of Glamorgan LDP will cover the plan period from 2011 to 2026. However, until
such a time as the LDP is adopted by the Council, the UDP will remain the development plan
for the Vale of Glamorgan.
2.6            Local Transport Plan
The Local Transport Plan 2001/2 – 2005/6, August 2000, cross refers to a number of the
proposals and policies in the adopted UDP, including reference to the design of the Airport
Access Road, and the three local highway improvement schemes of Llysworney Bypass,
Gileston Old Mill, Boverton Relief Road in UDP Policy TRAN 2. In particular, the Local
Transport Plan includes reference to Green Transport Plans, bus and rail initiatives, and cycling
and walking measures.
2.7           Vale of Glamorgan Community Strategy 2003-2013
The Vale of Glamorgan Community Strategy 2003-2013 sets out how the local community want
the Vale to look in the future and identifies priorities for action leading towards that vision.
One of the priorities for action on economic regeneration is to encourage inward investment and
support local business development. The strategy seeks to:
•   Raise the profile of ‘regional showcases’ such as St Athan airfield.
•   Increase the number of job opportunities in sectors such as aviation.
•   Develop the Vale’s potential as a location for film and media production.
•   Provide appropriate information services and assistance to those considering investing or
visiting the Vale.
•   Reduce long term unemployment and increase economic activity rates.
•   Increase community enterprise activity in areas of greatest deprivation.
•   Upgrade the infrastructure and environment in established and new employment areas.
To achieve these aims, organisations such as the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the WAG, the
South East Wales Economic Forum / Capital Wales, Business in Focus, Vale European
Partnership, DARA, and Education for Life in Wales have been identified in the document as
3.       Site Information
3.1      The Area
St Athan is within the administrative area of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, which a single-tier
unitary authority that delivers all the main local government services for the area. The Vale of
Glamorgan has a population of around 120,000.
The main settlements in the area are Barry, with a population of about 47,000, and Penarth with
a population of about 21,000. A short distance further to the east is Cardiff (population of over
300,000), while to the west is Bridgend (population of just under 130,000).
There is a close functional relationship between Cardiff and its immediate neighbouring towns,
such as Barry and Penarth. This is a relationship that extends along the coastal strip, through St
Athan to Bridgend.
To the immediate west of the St Athan site is the town of Llantwit Major, which has a
population of about 12,000 and is served by regular bus and train services. To the immediate
east of the site are the small settlements of Eglwys-Brewis, Flemingston and St Athan, whilst to
the immediate north-west is the village of Llanmaes.
The Vale of Glamorgan offers a high quality environment that provides a choice between urban
and rural areas in which to live. In addition to the attractions of the main towns of Barry and
Penarth, the charm and character of many of the areas towns and villages, coupled with their
proximity to Cardiff, contributes to the popularity of the Vale of Glamorgan as a place to live
and work. Llantwit Major, for example, is notable for its medieval street pattern, for its
unspoiled countryside setting and for the numerous buildings of architectural and historic
interest. Evidence suggests that a settlement has existed in the vicinity of Llantwit Major since
3.2      Brief History of St Athan
RAF St Athan was purchased in 1936 and the airfield opened in 1938 as a training centre.
St Athan was the largest station in the RAF in terms of personnel from about 1940 to the end of
the millennium, and enclosed an area of about 405 hectares with a 9.6 kilometre perimeter
From the start, the site has been the home of No 4 School of Technical Training (4STT) which
provided trained technicians for ground engineering and which still remains to today the most
important component of RAF presence on the site. As St Athan grew in size and importance, it
became the base for many units. By 1942, 19,000 RAF and WAAF airframe and engine fitters
and mechanics had been trained at St Athan. At its peak, there were 14,000 personnel present
on the site. The site also contained 7 NAAFI Institutes, 7 churches, numerous rest rooms,
information rooms and reference libraries, 60 acres of sports fields (15 soccer pitches, 4 rugby
pitches, 8 hockey pitches, and 4 cricket pitches), and 2 outdoor rifle ranges.
Numbers of aircrew on the station varied over the years, but, between mid-1942 and mid-1944,
there were some 5,000 trainee flight engineers on site at St Athan. Between 1941 and 1951,
some 22,599 British, Commonwealth and allied force flight engineers were trained at 4STT and
passed through St Athan.
In February 1955 the decision was made to form a Boy Entrant School at St Athan teaching
youngsters in airframes, armament, engines, electrical, general instruments, mechanical
transport, sheet metal, turning, welding, carpentry, safety equipment and draughting skills.
St Athan was chosen to supplement Cosford because it possessed suitable domestic and
technical accommodation, spacious sports grounds, a swimming pool, and gymnasium, etc. The
scheme transferred to Halton in 1965, but not before 7,000 youths had completed their training
at St Athan.
In 1958, RAF St Athan was used by the 1,500 athletes and team officials of the British Empire
and Commonwealth Games that were being held at Cardiff, Barry and Snowdonia. St Athan
was used as a base as it offered excellent sports training facilities.
A Driver Training School was established in the 1970s and, until its closure in 1993, the school
trained many thousands of Service drivers on 13 designated routes around the local area with a
throughput of approximately 4,000 trainees per annum. The daily presence on the local roads of
a range of vehicles, from small cars to cranes and fire engines, was accepted by local residents.
Associated training included load and load restraint courses, MT managers’ courses, and post
graduate elements, such as night driving, motorway driving, etc. Alongside the 150 or so
instructors, there was an in-house cadre of examiners.
Aircraft maintenance has been carried out on the St Athan base by a highly trained and skilled
workforce of RAF and RN fixed-wing aircraft, including Tornados, Harriers, Sea Harriers,
Jaguars, Hawks and VC10&#39;s. The work on the base has also involved the repair and overhaul of
aero engines and mechanical and structural components, as well as providing design and
St Athan has remained as the only aircraft maintenance unit in the RAF. In 1999, the Defence
Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) was formed as a single one-stop shop for aircraft
maintenance, by combining RAF and RN aviation repair with some 2,000 personnel, continuing
the long tradition of fixed wing maintenance and repair on the St Athan site.
3.3      WDA Involvement with St Athan
In 2000, the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) requested the assistance of the WAG to
find the Agency a new base in view of the fact that St Athan was scheduled for closure by MoD.
In order to assist DARA to relocate into a new efficient and commercially viable facility and to
promote new aerospace development on the remainder of the site, WDA completed the
acquisition of a 125-year lease (with an option to acquire the freehold) of RAF St Athan on 14
August 2003, leasing parts of the site back to the MoD for the development of specific users,
including DARA.
Under a unique partnering arrangement between the MoD and the former WDA, with the
support of the Welsh Assembly Government, Project Red Dragon was established at St Athan to
promote three principal elements:
•   Rationalisation of the MoD’s continued requirements for the site by replacing outdated
facilities and site infrastructure at St Athan;
•   The building of a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance facility for DARA; and
•   The creation of a world-class aviation business park by the former Welsh Development
The &#163;80 million aircraft super hangar facility was completed in November 2004, occupied in
February 2005 and officially opened in April 2005. However, in September 2005 the MoD
announced that it would be transferring all fast jet work to RAF bases at Cottesmore and
Marham and that DARA would cease operation at 1 April 2007. The VC10 part of the business
is to remain at St Athan after being put to the market in June 2006 for private sector acquisition.
Of particular concern, however, to the economic health of the area is the potential loss of the
bulk of DARA`s highly skilled workforce.
Following the MoD’s decision, a joint high level steering group was set up by the Welsh
Assembly Government, and the MoD to encourage new aerospace or other complementary uses
for the super hangar building. The WAG has also been actively involved for some time in
promoting St Athan as a possible location of some, or all, of the DTR elements.
Since the time of the acquisition of the MoD leasehold, the WDA has been developing plans for
creating an Aeronautical Business Park on the St Athan site involving the redevelopment and
expansion of the RAF site. Utilising the existing skills base and training institutions of the
successful aerospace maintenance sector, the WAG’s intention has been for Aerospace Wales St
Athan to offer the facilities and infrastructure needed by manufacturers, suppliers, service
providers and trainers to the aviation sector, with particular focus on Maintenance, Repair and
Overhaul (MRO).
The WAG see the development of “Aerospace Wales St Athan” for a Centre of Excellence as
crucial to maintaining the existing south and south-east Wales aerospace cluster. The proposals
are able to take advantage of the skilled workforce in the area and will complement the Training
Academy proposals on the St Athan site, which in turn will provide long term economic benefits
for South Wales. The urgent need to provide such opportunities has been significantly
increased by the MoD’s decision to transfer DARA’s fast jet work out of St Athan.
In the short term, the WAG, with the active support of MoD, has been working to attract
aerospace companies to occupy the older buildings vacated by DARA following their move to
the super hangar. The WAG has received approval to a planning notification to the Vale of
Glamorgan County Council in respect of the re-use of existing buildings no longer required by
MoD. Three companies have already taken up such premises on the site. In addition, MoD has
recently leased one of the two DARA main hangars to ATC Lasham, a company carrying out
maintenance and repair of civilian aircraft.
Additional land on the periphery of the site, necessary to provide a new access road and round
off proposed development areas, has been acquired by the WAG and negotiations are
proceeding on other parcels of land. Extensive baseline surveys have been carried out, a
remediation programme developed and agreed with the Environment Agency, and
transportation studies undertaken as preparation for the submission of planning applications to
redevelop the site as a commercial and military aerospace park, involving substantial public and
The UK Government’s policy statement on ‘The Future of Air Transport’ (December 2003) sets
out a strategic framework for the development of airport capacity in the United Kingdom over
the next 30 years supports regional aerospace growth and the establishment of a centre of
excellence for aircraft maintenance at St Athan.
3.4      Occupation of the Existing Site at St Athan
The development site includes the 293 hectares of RAF St Athan, together with additional and
adjoining land that has been, or is being, acquired by The WAG. The site is occupied by almost
1,000 structures, including over 230,000 square metres of office, workshop, hangar and storage
space, much of which is vacant and some of which is in very poor condition. A considerable
proportion of the floorspace on the site has been vacated and handed over to the WAG.
Approval has been received by the WAG to a planning notification to the Vale of Glamorgan
Council in respect of the re-use of existing buildings no longer required by the MoD.
To the west of the development site, the MoD has retained the freehold of about 40 hectares of
West Camp, which is occupied by the Welsh Guards, with approximately 500 to 600 personnel.
The Welsh Guards are about to be replaced with a Special Forces Group in March 2006 which
will start at around 700 personnel and then fairly quickly stabilise at around 650, with one third
of personnel being on deployment at any one time. It is anticipated that the Special Forces
Group will be stationed at St Athan West Camp for 4 to 5 years and will have a Service
Families Accommodation (SFA) requirement of around 100 dwellings, which is significantly
less than the existing stock at St Athan. The balance of available SFA dwellings will be able to
be used in association with the proposed Training Academy, as explained in Section 4.4.
Approximately half the site has been leased back by WAG to the MoD for the moment for a
variety of military users on varying periods of occupation, although much of the existing RAF
presence on the St Athan site is likely to be subsumed within the Training Academy and another
major military unit currently on site (FSFW) is expected to leave St Athan within 2 to 3 years.
It is anticipated, however, that the University of Wales Air Squadron (UWAS), the Volunteer
Glider School (VGS), S&amp;C Thermofluids (which operates the Adour Testing Rig on behalf of
the MoD), and Non Destructive Testing (NDT) will all continue to be accommodated within the
The new Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) integrated maintenance facility, known as
the Super-Hangar, occupies a site of about 40 hectares in the centre of RAF St Athan and
currently houses DARA’s head office. The Super Hangar provides over 45,000 square metres
of hangar space and 20,000 sq metres of workshop, has a roof span of 66 metres, a working
height of 14 metres, and is capable of accommodating 54 fixed wing fast jets, or 6 medium
sized transport aircraft.
Adjacent and to the west of the Super Hangar is a 9,750 square metre building known as “Twin
Peaks”. In November 2005, ATC Lasham signed a contract to service 26 B737s in the Twin
Peaks building, whilst the DARA VC10 maintenance operation moved into the Super Hangar.
Other civilian businesses currently on site are the engine maintenance company of Total Engine
Support, Lufthansa Resource Technical Training, who carry out civilian aircraft maintenance
training in the buildings at Picketston, and S&amp;C Thermofluids, who run the Adour test rig on
behalf of MOD.
To the east of Cowbridge Road is the golf course, whilst to the west, north and east of the site
are three housing estates that were originally built as MoD accommodation. Part of this housing
has been sold to private purchasers.
3.5      The Aerodrome
The active aerodrome on the site is owned and controlled by the WAG, but is operated as a
Government Aerodrome under military regulations and managed by DARA acting as the agent
for the WDA. The main operational runway, orientated east-west, is designated RWY 08-26
and is 1,825 metres long and 45 metres wide. Each runway direction has been provided with
rotary hydraulic cable arrester gear and overland safety barriers. The site also contains a shorter
cross runway, orientated north-south, which is now disused as an operational runway, but is
used as a taxiway for taxiing or towing aircraft to and from the maintenance areas, compass
swing base and engine de-tuner hard standing.
3.6      Road Transport Routes to St Athan
St Athan is approximately 20 kilometres from the M4, to the west of Cardiff, and is accessed via
M4 Junction 33 from the east and Junctions 37 to 35 from the west.
Access to St Athan from M4 Junction 33 is via the dual-carriageway A4232 as far as
Culverhouse Cross and then via the single-carriageway roads of the A4050, A4226, and B4265.
The B4265/A4226/A4050 route also provides access into Cardiff from St Athan.
Access to St Athan from M4 Junctions 37 to 35 from the west is via the A48 to Pentre Meyrick,
and then via the B4268/B4270 Llantwit Major Road. With regard to the B4268, the Vale of
Glamorgan Council is keen to bid for funds for a bypass on this road at Llysworney village,
which is a road that already serves two large employment areas at Vale Business Park and
Llandow Trading Estate, 5 kilometres to the north-west of St Athan.
The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has direct responsibility and authority for transport
policy in Wales and a number of transport improvement schemes are being undertaken, or being
considered, in South Wales.
The trunking of the A48 is underway, between Culverhouse Cross and Sycamore Cross and
along the A4226 (Five Mile Lane) from Sycamore Cross to Cardiff Airport. Orders have been
published and, subject to the outcome of a public inquiry due to be held shortly and the
completion of the appropriate statutory procedures, the Trunking Order will be made later this
year. WAG intends to carry out improvements to the A4226 to widen two narrow sections
along this route in order to provide a continuous length of good quality road access from the M4
to Cardiff Airport.
A new direct link road from the M4 to Cardiff Airport is in WAG’s published Trunk Road
Forward Programme and consultants will be appointed shortly to take this scheme through the
design and statutory processes. This project will proceed whether or not the Training Academy
is located at St Athan. However, WAG has indicated that the programme for the road scheme
could be accelerated to ensure that the opening of the new road link coincides with the Training
Academy development timetable.
Contracts have also been let for the work to widen the M4 around Cardiff to 3 lanes in each
direction. In addition, WAG has announced plans to build a new section of the M4 Motorway
around the south of Newport in order to provide for future growth in traffic.
3.7      Existing Access into the Site
The current main access to the St Athan site is via the west gate through West Camp. It is
anticipated that this access will in future serve only the Army area, which will become a
separate secure enclave. The Training Academy and Aeronautical Business Park development
at St Athan is to be connected to the B4265 via a new access road and junction as explained
3.8      Public Transport
The Vale of Glamorgan Council and the WAG re-opened the Vale of Glamorgan Railway line
in 2005 following a &#163;17 million investment and an hourly service has been introduced
connecting Llantwit Major and Rhoose stations with Cardiff and Bridgend. The line runs
between Cardiff Central Station and Bridgend, via Grangetown, Cogan, Eastbrook, Dinas
Powys, Cadoxton, Barry Docks, Barry, Rhoose (for Cardiff Airport) and Llantwit Major.
Llantwit Major Station is less than 3 kilometres from the St Athan site and the train service from
Llantwit Major takes 42 to 51 minutes to Cardiff Central Station.
Llantwit Major railway station is a modern multi modal transport interchange. A dedicated
shuttle bus service is to be provided between the Training Academy and Llantwit Major railway
station, via the proposed new access road. Regular train services also serve Rhoose Station and
the airport link and an additional bus shuttle service could also be provided from Rhoose to St
Athan, in particular, in order to connect direct into any improved rail service as described
The railway line has the capacity for half hourly services and for all trains to be lengthened from
2 to 5 car sets. Regular connecting services are available from Cardiff Central Station to all
parts of Great Britain, including a half-hourly service with a 2 hour journey time to London.
Consideration could also be given to providing an additional railway station adjacent to the St
Athan site, although it may be unnecessary with a dedicated shuttle bus service serving the
existing transport interchanges.
WAG is currently in negotiations with the First Group, who have won the Greater Western
Franchise, with a view to extending the hourly Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff service as far as
Rhoose Station, next to Cardiff Airport. Such a service would provide a half hourly service
from Rhoose to Cardiff by 2007 and provide direct services to such centres as Bristol, Bath,
Southampton and Portsmouth. Local rail services in the Vale of Glamorgan are currently
operated by Arriva Trains Wales.
A substantial number of bus routes run from Llantwit Major on a regular basis to Cardiff City
Centre, Bridgend, Barry, and Cardiff International Airport.
3.9      Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff International Airport, voted one of the top 10 airports in the world by the Telegraph in
2005, is located 7.5 kilometres from St Athan and has direct flights to 8 UK and 14 international
destinations. Current UK destinations from Cardiff include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and
Newcastle, with an onward service to Aberdeen. Services to Manchester and New Quay begin
in April 2005, as will a daily service to Brussels. A twice daily service to RAF Valley is also to
be introduced. WAG is currently working with the Airport to further expand the range of
destinations directly served, with a particular focus on facilitating scheduled services to North
America, Europe and the Middle East, including hubs such as Dubai. The expansion of the
Airport services is expected to continue in line with increasing demand and a Route
Development Fund has recently been launched in conjunction with the Airport. WAG will
continue to work with the Airport and Airlines to ensure that the Airport’s full potential is
realised, including taking into account the future demands that may arise from the Training
Academy and Aerospace Wales development at St Athan.
3.10 Planning History
The applications submitted on the St Athan site that have been dealt with by the Local Planning
Authority cover a wide range of development and have been mainly in the form of notifications
to the Local Planning Authority under Crown immunity arrangements. However, from later this
year, the Planning Acts will apply to the Crown, subject to certain exceptions. The development
at St Athan has ranged from small extensions to more major development, such as new single
living and married quarters/service families/barrack block accommodation, a new hangar for
VC10s, aircraft maintenance buildings, aircraft and aeroengine test facilities, offices,
classrooms, dining facilities, medical and dental centre, sports facilities, and store buildings.
4.       Requirements for the Training Academy
4.1      Introduction
The requirements for the development reflect the training needs of the facility and the various
MoD standards on their military bases. A summary of the requirements are set out below in
terms of the proposed number of personnel on the site and floorspace figures for the various
types of buildings associated with the Training Academy.
4.2      Site Population
The projected site population figures are set out overleaf.
The Training Academy proposals would generate a total site population of just over 10,000
people, of which 6,700 people would be living within the site.
Of the 3,300 who would be working on the site, but living outside, about 1,300 would be estate
services and support personnel, about 1,000 would be civilian trainers and personnel on
‘non-project’ units, and a further 1,000 would be military trainers and personnel on
‘non-project’ units.
The estate services / support staff comprise technical workers in addition to staff in catering,
retail, cleaning, administration, management etc. Non project units are those military personnel
and civilians that are associated with the Headquarters of various regiments.
The trainees will be mainly junior ranks on their Phase 2 or Phase 3 training programmes, or
“soldiers awaiting training” (SAWT).
Table 4.1      Site Population Figures for St Athan Training Academy
Live In /   Senior           Junior                     Junior
Population                                                 SNCO&#39;s                   Civilians   Totals      Notes
Live Out    Officers         Officers                   Ranks
Trainees       Live In                           163                     2714                      2877   (Ph2)
Trainees       Live In                                                    821                       821   (SAWT)
Trainees       Live In           50              138             902     1226                      2316   (Ph 3)
Sub Total                        50              301             902     4761               0      6014
Live In           28                35            139      130                       332
Live Out          27                34            138      129                       328
Live Out                                                                  628        628
Sub Total                        55                69            277      259            628       1288
ESTATE SERVICES / SUPPORT
Support        Live Out                                                                 1296       1296
Sub Total                             0                0           0            0       1296       1296
NON PROJECT UNITS
Military       Live In          119         incl in SO           136      101                       356   incl in Sen
Military       Live Out         231                              339      104                       674   Revised
NPU nos
Civilian       Live Out                                                                  390        390
Sub Total                       350                              475      205            390       1420
Total          Live In          197              336            1177     4992               0      6702
Total          Live Out         258                34            477      233           2314       3316
Total          All              455              370            1644     5225           2314      10018
4.3          Floorspace Requirements
Table 4.2        Floorspace Requirements for St Athan Training Academy
Land Use                                                    Area in m 2     Bedspaces
JRSLA                                                             141,113        4,913
Church                                                               908
Community Centre                                                     674
Childcare                                                           1,141
HIVE                                                                 144
Medical &amp; Dental                                                    4,508
Officers Mess                                                       7,596
Officers SLA                                                       26,668         543
SNCOs Mess                                                         10,996
SNCOs SLA                                                          33,401        1,151
Messing Store (shop)                                                1,709
P&amp;RTC&#39;s                                                            12,008
Pavilion                                                             524
JR Amenity Centre                                                  13,272
Tailor                                                                46
Launderette                                                          150
Cinema                                                              1,400
Bowling alley                                                       1,800
Amusement arcades                                                    400
Existing Technical (DARA)                                           6,395
New Build Technical &amp; Offices                                      81,700
External Training (POL, fuels etc)                                 33,426
TOTAL                                                             379,979        6,607
4.4         Service Families Accommodation (SFA)
An integral part of the requirements for delivering the Training Academy for the MoD is the
availability and provision, not only of single living accommodation, but of accommodation for
military personnel and their families, known as Service Families Accommodation (SFA). Such
housing is not general purpose residential development, but effectively “tied” housing, with
strictly controlled tenure, which is only available for rent to service personnel who are allocated
the accommodation by the MoD and who are unable to buy or rent in the open housing market.
The accommodation is in effect key worker affordable housing.
The demand analysis below demonstrates the family housing need for the Services generated by
the DTR proposals at St Athan, which amounts to about 815 SFA units.
Table 4.3          Service Families Accommodation Demand Analysis
Rank of Military                                                     Living Out (assume    SFA Required
Total        Living In (assume 50%)
Trainers                                                                    50%)          (assuming 75%)
Junior Ranks                352                   176                       176                132
SNCO&#39;s                      304                   152                       152                114
Junior Officers              72                    36                        36                 27
Senior Officers              68                    34                        34                 25
796                   398                       398                298
Non-Project Units
SFA Required
Rank                       Total                                         Living Out
(assuming 75%)
Bulmar          Number
%            (incl. 5%)
Junior Ranks                 209          46%               101             108                 81
SNCO&#39;s                       481          27%               136             345                259
356          32%               119             237                177
Total on Non-
1,046            -               356             690                517
Total SFA Requirement (for Trainers and those in Non-Project Units)                 815
5.       The Proposals
The Welsh Assembly Government, Metrix and MoD are working in co-operation to bring
forward proposals for the comprehensive redevelopment of the St Athan site for an aerospace
business park and a world-class military Training Academy. The opportunity available at St
Athan will enable new purpose-built facilities to be created for both developments. Significant
new infrastructure will be provided to service the development, in particular a new access road
from the B4265 which will serve both the Aerospace redevelopment and the Defence Training
The various elements of the proposed development of the St Athan site are explained below and
a Masterplan for the proposals accompanies this report.
The description of the proposals starts with an explanation of the design process which has been
embarked upon in relation to the St Athan site.
5.2      The Design Process
The former Welsh Development Agency published “Creating Sustainable Places” which
encourages high standards of design. In connection with the document’s advice on the design
process, the plans for the St Athan site aim to deliver a high-quality sustainable development
based upon a robust design process. The steps in the design process, as listed in “Creating
Sustainable Places”, can be applied to the St Athan situation as follows.
5.2.1     Inception Phase
Design teams with a wide range of skills and with considerable experience of such proposals are
currently working on both the WAG and Metrix proposals for the St Athan site. The Metrix
team has already submitted the proposals to the MoD in connection with the DTR Bids and is
continuing to work with the MoD in refining the proposals.
5.2.2     Policy Review
The Development Brief sets out the current planning policy context, including relevant national
policy; Wales Spatial Plan, Development Plan Policies, Supplementary Planning Guidance,
legal/planning constraints, and advice from statutory consultees. A formal Environmental
Impact Assessment will be required in view of the scale and potential impact of the
development and work has commenced on preparing a Scoping Report for the Metrix proposals
as the basis for seeking a scoping opinion from the Local Planning Authority. In addition,
baseline information studies have been completed by WAG for the site.
5.2.3     Consultation with Partners and Stakeholders
Consultation with partners, the community and other local stakeholders is essential to arrive at a
design solution which people can understand and support. The Development Brief sets out the
vision for the site and an opportunity will be provided to enable consultees and the general
public to make their views known in order to guide and influence the detailed design for the site.
5.2.4    Context and Site Appraisal
The Development Brief sets out the essential features and characteristics of the site, including
the context for the proposals. The Development Brief covers a wide range of matters that have
been taken into account at this stage and which will continue to be considered throughout the
planning process. These matters include information on the site and the potential impact of the
proposals, covering such subjects as:
•   Hydrology
•   Flood Risk
•   Landscape and Visual Impact
•   Ecology and Biodiversity
•   Cultural Heritage and Archaeology
•   Noise and Vibration
•   Air Quality and Dust Appraisal
•   Land Quality
The Development Brief also provides an economic assessment on the implications that the
Training Academy proposal would have for the South Wales area and an assessment of the
living accommodation implications associated with the proposed Training Academy.
5.2.5     Visioning
The Masterplan is based upon a detailed examination of all the requirements that would need to
be provided in order to deliver a military Training Academy that went into the Bid and which is
continuing to be refined in conjunction with the MoD. The vision for the site is a world-class
training and teaching facility, which will make a major contribution to the quality of life in the
region, alongside a major aerospace centre of excellence, which builds upon the existing skills
that are available in the local workforce.
5.2.6    Objectives and Targets
In order for the Training Academy development to be secured for South Wales, it will be
necessary to have obtained planning permission by June 2007 under the MoD’s DTR
5.2.7     Future Proofing
The Masterplan is based upon more detailed work on the Training Academy site that has been
undertaken by the developer, Metrix, for the Bid submission. This work involved the
disposition of buildings and the circulation within the site in order to test in detail how a
Training Academy might be designed and accommodated on the land. The Masterplan is
therefore based upon a robust analysis of what is needed for a new Training Academy and how
it might be accommodated on the St Athan site. However, at this stage, it is important that the
Masterplan provides sufficient flexibility for the detailed plans to be prepared and agreed with
the Local Planning Authority over the coming months.
As an integral part of the proposals, and as a requirement for the Bid, the proposals for the
Training Academy will continue to consider in detail the likely impact of climate change on
buildings, design and performance, as well as ensuring that the proposals contain sufficient
flexibility to meet the changing requirements of future users.
5.2.8     Design Development
The Development Brief is the first stage in planning the development of the Training Academy
on the St Athan site. The key dates for meeting the MoD’s DTR timetable are as follows:
•    March 2006         Development Brief to be considered by the Vale of
•    May 2006           Public Consultation on the Development Brief
•    October 2006       Preferred Bidder Announcement by MoD
•    July 2006          Final Development Brief considered by Council
•    January 2007       Submission of a Planning Application by Metrix for the
•    May 2007           Target date for the Planning Application to be considered by
•    October 2007       Financial Close on DTR Project with MoD
•    January 2008       Commencement on Site
•    2008-2011          Construction on Site
5.3      High Quality Design
The character and appearance of the development will be enhanced by creating distinctiveness
in the design of the buildings and the landscaping of the site.
Within the Training Academy site, key landmarks, in the form of distinctive buildings and the
open and landscaped space of the “green spine”, will provide a sense of place within the site.
The new access road from the B4265 will be landscaped to provide an attractive entranceway
into St Athan Park and will be flanked by sports grounds and woodland. The entranceway into
the main gate and reception will lead into a grand tree lined avenue which will extend past the
parade ground and terminate at the living accommodation and Messes.
Distinct building features, such as a church spire, taller buildings, and smaller visual signals,
such as an oriel bay, or a coloured wall, will assist in providing character, as well as help with
the understanding of location within what is a very large site.
Close regard will be had in the detailed design of the proposals to the document “A Model
Design Guide for Wales”, March 2005, which was formally adopted by the Vale of Glamorgan
Council on 16th November 2005 as Supplementary Planning Guidance.
5.4      The Various Elements of the St Athan Site
Figure 03 identifies the various areas that make up the St Athan site.
•   Site A is the area across which the proposed new access road will connect to the B4265
•   Site B is the northern part of the proposed Training Academy site.
•   Site C is the WAG’s aerospace business park.
•   Site D is the Super Hangar and its associated uses.
•   Site E is the existing East Camp and the eastern part of the proposed Training Academy site.
•   Site F is open countryside to the east of the runway and Cowbridge Road which is the site
of proposed sports fields and facilities associated with the proposed Training Academy.
•   Site G is the site for outdoor training for the Army which will need to be relocated from Site
B to accommodate the Training Academy.
•   Site H is the area adjacent to the east side of the existing Flemingstone Road housing estate,
east of Scott Close and Drake Close, that is proposed to accommodate the necessary Service
Families Accommodation that would need to be provided alongside the proposed Training
•   Sites J1, J2 and J3 are the three existing housing estates of existing and former MoD
•   Site K is West Camp which is the Army base.
•   Site L at Batslays includes some existing buildings and hangars, some open countryside
between the railway line and runway, the area where there may be a requirement to relocate
the compass calibration centre currently located in the vicinity of the cross runway, and
some other existing MoD site occupiers that require long term presence on the site.
•   Site M is the main east-west runway at St Athan.
•   Site N is the Beggars Pound area between the runway and the northern end of St Athan
village where some buildings exist within the airfield.
5.5      Access into the St Athan Site
The main access into the redeveloped site will be via a new road to be built from the B4265, just
north of the railway bridge where it crosses the B4265 road to the east of Llantwit Major.
Traffic to and from the site will therefore be provided with direct and separate access onto the
main road that bypasses both Llantwit Major and St Athan. The WDA development will be
served by the same access road from the west, via a spur into a separate entrance to the
Aerospace Wales site.
The Training Academy will include the site of the Joint Police Unit on its eastern boundary
which will require separate access. This can be achieved by making use of the existing East
Gate entrance. Access from the east will be limited to mainly light vehicles, with all service and
heavy goods vehicles directed via the proposed new access road to the west of the site. As
required with such military sites, emergency access will continue to be made available on the
opposite and eastern side of the site where the access into East Camp already exists.
The access proposals are shown diagrammatically in Figure 05.
5.6      Access around the Training Academy Site
The existing public highway, which currently crosses the Training Academy site, will need to be
closed and diverted as a public highway. This is due to the fact that the Training Academy site
is obliged to extend across both sides of the present public road in order to accommodate the
super hangar within the training academy grounds and in order that all the buildings and
facilities will be within one secure boundary. As a defence establishment, the Training
Academy will require a secure and protected boundary, security checks at any entrance, and be
designed with counter terrorism measures in mind.
Traffic presently using the existing public highway will continue to do so to the east and the
west of the Training Academy site, but will be diverted along a new route around the northern
side of the Training Academy site. The proposed diverted route is shown diagrammatically in
Figure 05. The precise design and alignment of the diverted road will need to be investigated
and be the subject of detailed consultation before a specific route is agreed by the Local
Planning Authority. The route will be designed to a standard that would allow buses to use the
route in order to preserve existing public transport services and allow for any enhancements.
5.7      The Super Hangar
The Training Academy is to be centred around the former DARA Super Hangar, thereby
ensuring that this recently built facility is used for an appropriate and beneficial use. The
building will be adapted and fully incorporated into the proposed Training Academy
development. The existing building has the advantage of direct access to the aircraft runway.
On the large area to the east of the facility, which is shielded from the runway and aircraft noise,
new teaching classroom wings will be built around new landscaped courtyards. Each courtyard
will provide a separate entrance to the three faculties of the Training Academy, which are:
•   Aeronautical Engineering (AE)
•   Electromechanical Engineering (EME)
•   Communications and Information Systems (CIS)
5.8       Living Accommodation and Associated Uses for the
Junior Ranks Single Living Accommodation (JRSLA) is the largest proportion of the living
accommodation that will be accommodated within the site. The living accommodation and
dining facilities will be provided in new buildings that will be grouped along a “green spine” of
landscaped open space that is proposed to run through the centre of the Training Academy site.
Officer and Senior Ranks living accommodation and Messes will also be provided, primarily in
the north-west corner of the site.
The associated amenity and recreational facilities will be placed at the heart of the site where
they will be easily accessible by all personnel. The central areas will incorporate key facilities
•   Junior Ranks Dining Centre
•   Pub
•   Shops
•   Cinema
•   Bowling
•   Amusements
•   Physical and Recreational Training Centre
•   Fitness Gym
•   Medical and Dental Facilities
•   Hobbies and Club Centre
•   Worship Space
•   Bandstands
•   All Weather Sports Pitches
With regard to worship space, the Training Academy proposals include, subject to the
agreement of the landowners, the incorporation and restoration of the old and derelict church
building on the south side of Eglwys Brewis Road. The idea would be to restore this listed
building and its setting as part of the Training Academy proposals so that the building is
provided with a beneficial use that will secure it long-term preservation.
5.9       Service Families Accommodation (SFA) Proposals
The demand analysis in Section 4.4 indicates that about 815 Service Families Accommodation
(SFA) units could be generated by the DTR proposals at St Athan. SFA will need to be
provided outside, but close to the Training Academy, in order to meet the specific demand for
key worker affordable housing for military personnel and their families who would not be able
to buy or rent in the private housing market.
The military personnel will be typically posted to the Training Academy with their families for
periods of 2 to 3 years and the families tend to rely heavily on the support services that will be
available at the St Athan site.
With regard to the existing SFA situation at St Athan, the Welsh Guards at West Camp are
about to be replaced with a Special Forces Group in March 2006 who will have a much reduced
SFA requirement of around 100 dwellings, which is significantly less than the existing stock of
330 SFA units at St Athan.
The requirement for SFA can therefore be met in part from the existing housing areas:
•   By using many of the existing 330 SFA units at St Athan which will be vacant. This will
amount to about 230 SFA units after allowance is made for leaving 100 SFA units for the
Army at West Camp; and
•   By building new SFA units on infill sites within the existing housing estates, which is
estimated to have potential for up to 160 SFA units.
The above provision would leave a balance of about a further 425 SFA units to be provided in
possibly a number of further ways. There is a requirement by the MoD for SFA to be located
close to the Training Academy. The MoD seeks to ensure that there are sufficient staff, on and
around a military establishment, who can act as older mentors and provide an example for the
younger trainees and the existence of SFA close by can assist with this objective. The close
proximity of the SFA to the military establishment is also required for security reasons to enable
such accommodation to be adequately protected in association with its base. The SFA provided
must also meet the MoD standards for such accommodation, including such things as specified
floorspace and storage standards.
The precise location of the SFA will also need to be acceptable to the Local Planning Authority
and an area for such housing is indicated in the Masterplan in Figures 02 and 06. The land
shown adjoins the existing housing estate at Flemingston Road. Whilst a specific area has been
identified, development will only be pursued on this land if the calculation for SFA
accommodation is confirmed, and therefore required, at the time of the occupation of the
Training Academy. The sequential approach to locating SFA, as described below, will be
followed should any accommodation need to be located away from St Athan and in any
different format than a protected housing estate close to the base. However, this will depend on
the MoD requirements in the future. The indicated site would only be used to provide SFA in
the form of key worker affordable housing and it is not proposed that any other form of housing,
such as housing for sale and rent on the open market, would be permitted on the site.
It must also be kept in mind that a proportion of the 2,314 workers at the Training Academy,
who it is estimated will be living outside the site and will not be in SFA, will themselves be
seeking their own housing in the open market and within the vicinity of St Athan. This demand
may have an effect on what may be available to rent and buy in the local area for SFA purposes
should this be a feasible option.
The way in which the residual balance of SFA accommodation might be met, in order of
preferred priority, would be as follows.
•   By meeting at least some of the housing need by purchasing new housing units being built
in the area where that accommodation and the location meets the MoD’s standards and
•   By meeting at least some of the housing need from the local rented market where that
accommodation and the location meets the MoD’s standards and requirements.
•   Building new SFA in the towns of Barry, or Bridgend, or Cardiff, subject to the location
meeting the MoD’s requirements and the proposals being acceptable to the Local Planning
•   Building new SFA on land permitted by the UDP at Llantwit Major, Cowbridge, or Rhoose,
subject to the location meeting the MoD’s requirements and the proposals being acceptable
to the Local Planning Authority. (N.B. A UDP housing allocation of 600 dwellings exists at
Rhoose.)
•   Building new SFA close to the Training Academy, as indicated in the Masterplan in Figures
02 and 06, subject to the proposals being acceptable to the Local Planning Authority, and
detailed consideration of all relevant housing policies and Supplementary Planning
Guidance referred to in Section 2.4 of this Brief.
5.10 Sports and Recreation Areas for the Proposed
The major sports facilities will be on the periphery of the site, with most of the facilities outside
the security area where they can be shared by a wider community. A small number of pitches
will also be included around the Junior Ranks living accommodation within the security area.
Informal spaces for recreational purposes are to be provided alongside the living
accommodation in the form of lawns and terraces, associated with the Messes, as small sports
pitches, and as grassed and patio areas for the JRSLA.
Outdoor recreational facilities will take the form of:
•   sports areas and pitches
•   Athletics stadium and track
•   All weather pitches and changing facilities
Indoor recreational facilities will include:
•   Multi-screen cinema
•   Bowling alley
•   Physical and Recreational Training Centre, bars, pubs and cafes
There are examples elsewhere, for example at Tidworth in Wiltshire, where facilities located
within, but adjacent to, the security fence can be considered for access not only to the personnel
on the military training site, but also to the surrounding civilian community. There are obvious
advantages to both the operators and their customers in achieving such an arrangement where
the necessary security and access requirements are able to be accommodated. The potential of
shared access to such facilities will be explored at the detailed stages of the planning process, in
particular with regard to sports hall, all weather surface, and fitness facilities.
5.11 Circulation and Transport within the Academy Site
The layout of the development within the Training Academy site will segregate pedestrian and
vehicular movement, so that vehicles will mainly be confined to the perimeter of the site, whilst
pedestrians and cyclists will be able to use the core areas and “green spine” in safety and
comfort. Car parks are to be located on the perimeter of the site, between the estate road and the
site boundary, and vehicle movements will be mainly restricted to the perimeter of the site.
Dedicated service vehicle routes for emergency, refuse and maintenance vehicles will be
provided for access to buildings and facilities.
The great majority of the occupants will walk between buildings and facilities when within the
site. It is anticipated that 25% of the population within the site will use a cycle and clearly
defined routes will be provided to accommodate an internal electric cart service to assist with
transport across the site.
A Green Transport Plan will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority to encourage people
arriving and departing from the site to use public transport, or to car share, in order to
discourage as much as possible the use of the private car. A dedicated shuttle bus service is to
be provided between the Training Academy and Llantwit Major railway station, and possibly
also to Rhoose railway station depending on demand.
However, parking space will need to be provided on the site on the basis of military scales
requirements and storage space will be required for military vehicles used in training exercises.
5.12 Aerospace Centre of Excellence
In addition to the Training Academy, the aerospace centre of excellence will be developed to the
west of the cross runway and to the north of the main runway.
The main area of runway-related development will be located to the immediate west of the cross
runway. The existing large hangar, known as “Twin Peaks”, will be retained for the occupation
of VC10 work for MOD once that work has moved out of the Super Hangar and additional large
hangar facilities will be provided to accommodate aircraft manufacture, maintenance and
overhaul activities, either as new buildings, or as existing hangars which would be converted
and extended. The hangars would be of a size to accommodate a variety of aircraft types, based
generally on bay sizes of 80 metres by 80 metres and 60 metres by 60 metres, with a clear
internal height of up to approximately 20 metres. The hangars would accommodate such
businesses as ATC Lasham, currently occupying “Twin Peaks”, but likely to be displaced by the
VC10 business. A civil aircraft engine testing facility would also be provided in this location,
which would complement the existing range of test equipment for military engines.
On the south side of the main runway, some additional runway-related development would also
be provided. The University of Wales Air Squadron and Volunteer Gliding School, amongst
other current military occupiers, are likely to require re-location to the south of the runway and
there may also be a requirement at this end of the site for a relocated compass calibration centre,
which is currently located in the vicinity of the cross runway.
6.        Impact Assessment and Mitigation
6.1       Transportation
The proposals for access into the site are described in Section 5.5 of this Brief, whilst the
proposals for access around the training Academy site are described in Section 5.6.
The likely impact of the proposed development on the local highways and transportation
infrastructure has been considered by the Transport Group which includes representatives from
the Welsh Assembly Government, including their consultants Capita Symonds, the Vale of
Glamorgan Council, and Metrix, including their consultants Entec UK Ltd. The development
includes both the proposed Training Academy and the Aerospace Wales sites. The Transport
Group has worked alongside other Groups with similar representatives in their memberships,
which cover the subjects on Planning, Quality of Life, and Training in terms of the implications
that the proposals would have for the area. All four work streams have been co-ordinated by an
overall Steering Group of representatives from the local authority, Government departments,
and non-governmental organisations. The summary of issues identified within the Transport
Working Group for St Athan is set out below.
All investigations and discussions within the Transport Group are based on a “worst case”
scenario that includes the Training Academy (Package 1 and Package 2) proposals, the
Aerospace Wales proposals of the WDA, forecast expansion of Cardiff Airport, and the
committed housing development in the area.
Initial results from highway modelling suggest that there is sufficient highway capacity within
the local road infrastructure to absorb the impact of the development. This is based on an initial
appraisal of traffic numbers including:
•    Current highway capacity input using sub regional traffic model.
•    A gravity distribution model and a recent postcode survey of DARA employees on the site.
•    Modal split assumptions, including extensive use of rail transport especially for junior
•    The likely shift patterns of trainers, trainees and support staff.
•    Minimal allowance, at this stage, for the potential for car sharing, or the impact that an
aggressive green travel plan might have on the modal split assumptions.
However, a full Transport Impact Assessment still needs to be undertaken and this may show
that there is a need for additional highway improvements to cater for the increased traffic flows.
The developer will be required to enter into a S.106/S.278 agreement to mitigate any adverse
highways impacts that are identified by the full Transport Assessment. It is important that the
full Transport Assessment also covers the routes and mitigation measures for construction
traffic generated by the proposals and this will be conditioned by any future planning
application. The Training Academy and Aeronautical Business Park development at St Athan is
`to be connected to the B4265 via a new access road and junction. Traffic to and from the site
will therefore be provided with direct and separate access onto the main road, thus providing a
bypass for the nearby settlements of Llantwit Major and St Athan. As required with such
military sites, an emergency access will continue to be made available on the eastern side of the
site where an existing access into East Camp already exists.
The Llantwit Major Park-and-Ride railway station is within 3 kilometres of the St Athan site
and is a station with modern parking and public transport interchange facilities. A dedicated
shuttle bus service would be provided between the Training Academy and Llantwit Major
railway station, via the proposed new access road. However, consideration will continue to be
given to providing a new railway station closer to the Training Academy site, if this was
considered to be appropriate, and if a suitable location, close to the Academy, could be
identified. It may be just as appropriate and more efficient, however, to provide a public
transport link to the existing railway station using dedicated shuttle buses.
6.2      Hydrology
The site overlies a minor aquifer comprising limestone and inter-bedded mudstones and liass.
The drift varies between 0.5 and 1 metre in thickness and allows relatively rapid run-off from
the site. The limited thickness of the drift also allows rainfall to infiltrate to the aquifer
Groundwater at the site acts as basal flow for the Nant y Stepsau Stream, which drains the
northern part of the site to the River Thaw, for the Hoddnant Stream, which drains the western
part of the site to the west through Boverton south of the B4265, and the Rill’s Valley Stream,
which drains the southern part of the site to the River Thaw.
The ridge line runs parallel to the secondary north-south runway, approximately 200 metres to
the west of it, and parallel to the primary east-west runway, approximately through the middle
of East Camp.
Groundwater is contaminated from Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPLS) due to leaks
and spillage and the WDA has a strategy agreed with the Environment Agency to remediate
groundwater pollution. The remediation is expected to run over a period of 30 months, with
post completion monitoring continuing for a further 12 months. Groundwater remediation
entails the containment and treatment of polluted groundwater and future groundwater usage
may be restricted, which will be taken into account in the design of the drainage schemes.
6.3      Flood Risk
The Environment Agency will require flow attenuation of the development at St Athan to 3.5 to
5 l/s/ha which will require significant flow attenuation features to be incorporated in the design
of the development. Properties along Cedar Road at Eglwys-Brewis could be affected by the
Nant y Stepsau stream. Erosion control may also be required further downstream where the
stream becomes steeper.
Localised Sustainable Urban Drainage schemes, such as permeable car parks, swales and
soakways, will be used wherever possible in order to make sure that run-off is attenuated and
dealt with as close as possible to the source. Subject to further consultation with the
Environment Agency, attenuation may also be required in the form of flood storage reservoirs
across the Hoddnant Stream, upstream of the railway crossing, and on the Nant y Stepsau
Stream at Eglwys-Brewis.
6.4      Landscape and Visual Impact
A landscape and visual assessment has been undertaken based upon the methodology set out in
the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment jointly published by the Landscape
Institute (LI) and Institute of Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM). The
Glamorgan Heritage Coast lies south of the B4265 road and a Special Landscape Area lies to
the east of Cowbridge Road. Parts of the development site, as identified in Figure 02, to the east
of Cowbridge Road are within the Special Landscape Area.
The landscape surrounding the site and establishment is generally open with local and distant
views obtained towards the site. The existing DARA hanger and water tower near the eastern
entrance to the airbase form the most prominent features within the airbase and can be seen
from a distance. Around the site, views can be obtained towards the airbase, although changes
in landform and the existence of buildings and vegetation, including the tall hedgerows
adjoining local lanes, restrict view from north of Eglwys-Brewis road towards the site.
Views exist from properties on the edge of Llanmaes, Picketston and St Athan, as well as from
local roads and public footpaths in the vicinity of the site. The Zone of Potential Visual
Influence (ZPVI) extends to the north and east of the site to cover an area up to 3 to 4
kilometres. To the south and west of the site, the ZPVI is more contained by existing
settlements and changes in topography and extends up to 2 to 3 kilometres.
The proposed development will inevitably result in changes to the landscape character and
visual appreciation of the current site and its surrounding rural countryside. However, such is
the size of the site that it has the potential for such a scale of development. The visual impact of
the proposals will be localised and can be assimilated into the surrounding landscape by
minimising in the detailed design the visual effects in views from the north and east, as well as
from neighbouring settlements.
6.5      Ecology
The development proposals will be fully informed by an Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) which should assess all potential ecological impacts and include all necessary mitigation
measures. The scope of the Environmental Statement should include the following:
•   Assessment of impacts on designated sites, both statutory and non-statutory, which may
lie within or outside the application site, including candidate Sites of Importance for
Nature Conservation (cSINCs).
Baseline, whole site surveys of the following subjects/taxonomic groups:
•   Phase 1 habitat survey. (Identification and mapping of all habitats represented on site
using a Phase 1 approach.)
•   Hedgerow survey. All hedgerows should be assessed against the criteria set out in the
Hedgerow Regulations 1992 to identify all hedgerows which could be classed as
“Important” in respect of these Regulations.
•   Phase II vegetation survey for any habitats of interest identified through the Phase 1
survey, to include habitats listed on the 2003 Welsh Assembly Government published
list of Species and Habitats of Principal Importance for the Conservation of Biological
Diversity and any areas of semi-improved/unimproved grassland.
•   Otter survey
•   Water vole
•   Great crested newt
•   Reptiles
•   Invertebrates – survey of any areas identified through the Phase 1 Habitat survey to
have potential invertebrate interest
•   Native fairy shrimp
•   Bats
•   Dormouse
The Environmental Statement should also survey for and assess the impacts on any other
protected species which have potential to be affected, and any species or habitats listed on the
2003 Welsh Assembly Government published list of Species and Habitats of Principal
Importance for the Conservation of Biological Diversity or within the Vale of Glamorgan Local
There will also be a requirement for a whole-site ecological Management Plan to be
implemented post development to maintain and enhance the ecological interest on site, to
include both management and monitoring where appropriate.
An extensive programme of ecological surveys has been conducted at the site and adjacent areas
of land since 2003, and is still ongoing.
There are no statutory or non-statutory designations for nature conservation within the site
boundary. There are, however, a number of non-statutory designated sites in the wider area.
A Phase 1 Habitat survey was undertaken across the entire site in 2005. Most of the site,
excluding the buildings and runway, comprises improved grassland, arable or amenity
grassland, with smaller areas of semi-improved grassland, marshy grassland and ruderal habitat.
A number of hedgerows at the site have been classified as “Important” under the Hedgerow
Some species surveys have already been conducted and further surveys are proposed.
To date no signs of dormouse, water vole or white clawed crayfish have been detected, although
there are historical records of water vole (provided by the Environment Agency) on the River
Thaw. Surveys to date have recorded badgers to be present within the site boundary and otters
to be present on the River Thaw to the east of the site. The bat surveys have highlighted
buildings and trees with potential to support roosts, which are to be the subject of further survey
work and mitigation proposals. The bat foraging surveys recorded predominantly common
species using the site, although horseshoe bats were also recorded in small numbers.
Both winter and summer bird surveys have been completed which have recorded a range of bird
species including a number of UK/Wales/Vale of Glamorgan Priority species and Schedule 1
Three emergency water supply tanks located on the airfield support a breeding population of
great crested newts which will need to be captured and translocated in order to accommodate
the Training Academy development. In addition a number of surrounding ponds, including
Batslays farm on the south side of the airfield, also support great crested newts. The capture
and translocation of the great crested newts will require a licence from the Welsh Assembly.
An agreed mitigation strategy is currently being devised for the site with the Countryside
Council for Wales which will involve the creation of ponds suitable for the translocation of the
6.6             Treescape
An Arboricultural Implications Assessment (AIE) should be conducted in accordance with the
“British Standard 5837 2005 Trees in relation to construction – Recommendations”. The AIE
should include identification of and assessment of the impacts on any hedgerows, mature or
veteran trees or ancient woodland remnants on site, and all trees and woodlands protected by
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), and it should be conducted by qualified arboricultural
consultants.     Woodland management plans should be prepared by professional
forestry/woodland management consultants if required.
6.7            Cultural Heritage and Archaeology
There are no designated features, such as Scheduled Monuments or Listed Buildings that would
be directly affected by development, though the 12/13th Century Church of St. Braise, Eglwys-
Brewis, is located on the northern edge of the site. As explained at Section 5.8 of this report,
there is an opportunity for the disused church building to be incorporated into the Training
Academy development, which would allow the building to be restored and repaired. Whilst its
future use would need to be confirmed, the building might be restored as a private chapel within
the Training Academy.
Archaeological investigations since 2003 at Eglwys-Brewis, in advance of construction of the
DARA Super-Hangar, revealed remains of Medieval occupation and a ditched enclosure of
possible Iron Age or Romano-British date. There is some potential for the presence of further
features within previously undisturbed parts of the site. It will therefore be necessary for further
development to be preceded by appropriate archaeological investigation, in consultation with
the Glamorgan/Gwent Archaeological Trust and the Local Planning Authority, in order to
ensure that any further features can be appropriately recorded.
6.8            Land Quality
Two remediation issues for the site relate to hydrocarbon penetration of the aquifer in specific
spots and low-level radiation from luminous dials in one part of the site.
In acquiring the leasehold of the land at St Athan from the MoD, the WDA has entered into an
obligation to take responsibility under the legal agreement for remediation of all contamination
issues other than those caused after the date of the agreement (i.e. post August 2003). The
WDA&#39;s obligations extend to land outside the military boundary as well as covering all the land
acquired by the former WDA from the MoD in 2003.
The strategy agreed for the hydrocarbons with the Environment Agency involves a 3-year
programme of work which has gone to Tender and is about to commence on site.
In respect of the low-level radiation, the top 300mm of soil has already been cleared from the
areas concerned in order to allow the Army to train on the area. It is not anticipated that further
remediation of any significant scale will be required on the site, although a protocol has been
agreed with the Environment Agency for a watching brief of the site and a safe method of
working during any construction stage.
The WAG has confirmed that remediation work will have been completed prior to construction
commencing on site. The MoD has also indicated that the site is free of munitions. Whilst
every effort has been made to ensure the removal of contaminants and munitions from the site, a
watching brief will be undertaken during construction in order to certify that any discoveries are
safely removed and do not cause delays to the construction programme.
6.9            Agricultural Land
An agricultural assessment of land surrounding the airfield at St Athan was undertaken in
December 2001 and January 2002 according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
(MAFF) guidelines and criteria. The farmland was examined on a 100 metre square basis with
five small pits excavated per grid. Topsoil samples were analysed and the climate conditions
taken into account. All the survey area had heavy textured topsoils. The detailed agricultural
land classification survey identified Sub-grade 3b over most of the 230 hectares surveyed (over
80%), with small areas of better quality Sub-grade 3a land on the western side of the survey area
(less than 10%), and small areas of poorer Grades 4 and 5 quality land in the wet valleys (less
than 10%). The survey in 2001/02 was connected with initial investigations relating to the
runway. This is important because all the Sub-grade 3a land was identified south of the B4265
road and west of the runway. This is land outside the Development Brief site. All the land
surveyed in 2001/02 that falls within the Development Brief site is Sub-grade 3b quality or
poorer. Whilst the survey in 2001/02 could not obtain access onto about 55 hectares of
agricultural land to the east of the runway, the adjoining surveyed land indicates that it is most
likely to be Sub-grade 3b quality.
6.10           Noise and Vibration
Current operations at the site include aircraft movements associated with DARA activities, the
University of Wales Air Squadron and the No 634 Volunteer Gliding School. Aircraft noise is
predicted to decrease in the future due to the cessation of DARA activities. Other on-site
activities, such as the engine testing facilities and workshops, will also reduce on the cessation
of DARA activities. Other noise sources influencing baseline noise levels include road traffic
noise from vehicles using local roads, railway noise from the line to the south, aircraft noise
associated with Cardiff airport, and agricultural noise from machinery and livestock.
No significant sources of vibration have been identified which are likely to affect the site,
although residents close to the existing railway line may experience some vibration. The
conclusion is that, whilst there is the potential for a range of noise effects to result from the
development, there are established assessment methodologies for all of these effects and a range
of mitigation measures which can be adopted to reduce any significant noise effects.
6.11           Air Quality and Dust Appraisal
The main air quality issues likely to arise from the development are from the emissions of
pollutants from the exhausts of construction vehicles and road traffic, operating on-site and
travelling to and from the site, as well as from the exhausts of aircraft. A review of the air
quality archive results and the continuous and passive monitoring data for the area indicates that
the air quality objectives will be met and that no pollutants are currently exceeding their
The nearest sensitive receptors to the proposed development site include a number of farms and
residential areas. Although at present there are no statutory ecological receptors within
3 kilometres of the site, there is potential for cSINCs or habitats / areas to have ecological value,
including areas recorded to support species of importance located close to the site.
Potential likely significant effects identified during the construction stage would result from
HGV movements on- and off-site. It is envisaged that these effects could be overcome by using
standard dust mitigation measures and designated HGV routes agreed with the Local Planning
Potential likely significant effects identified during the operational stage could result from
increases in road, rail and aircraft movements. Further detailed assessment would confirm these
potential impacts and effects on air quality as part of any Environmental Impact Assessment in
association with an eventual planning application.
6.12           Economic Impact
The economic impact assessment has been undertaken and the main conclusions of the study are
•   The Training Academy will produce about 4,004 jobs.
•   The jobs created within the Training Academy, plus the trainees at the Academy, are
estimated to contribute about &#163;58.7 million per annum to the local economy.
•   Contributions will also be made to the local economy from other sources, such as indirect
employment associated with the proposals and from visitors and trainees.
•   These estimates do not include other contributions to the number of local jobs and the
contribution to the local economy which will be generated by WAG’s Aerospace Wales
•   The proposals will also help to consolidate within the South Wales area the existing
specialist knowledge of defence and aerospace-related technology and engineering matters.
•   The development will also inject jobs and a significant contribution to the local economy
during construction on the site.
6.13           Housing Impact
A total over 6,607 bedspaces are to be provided within the Training Academy site as Single
Living Accommodation, mainly for the trainees, but also for some other military personnel.
About 1,088 military families will be seeking housing outside the Training Academy, but about
75% of these will be military personnel and their families who will not be seeking
accommodation in the open housing market and who will have an entitlement for family
accommodation that is provided by the Services.
About 2,587 workers at the Training Academy will live outside the site. However, 90% of these
workers will be civilians and a proportion will already be living in the area and will be recruited
once the Academy has opened. Therefore, only a proportion of the 2,587 workers will be
people who will be moving into the region and therefore seeking accommodation in the open
housing market. Of those seeking accommodation, most will not necessarily want to locate
immediately adjacent to the site. The precise proportion of the 2,587 workers who will be
moving into the area is unknown. However, the Vale of Glamorgan is an area where about
1,500 dwellings are available at any one time on the open market and where some 450 to 600
new dwellings are built each year. In addition, other major areas of population and housing
stock exist nearby, but outside the administrative area of the Vale of Glamorgan, at places like
Cardiff and Bridgend.
The Local Planning Authority has at least a 7 year supply of housing land for new development
and is about to embark on it new Local Development Plan that will allocate additional land for
development to 2026. The new Local Development Plan will be able to take into account the
implications of all proposed development, including the Training Academy and aerospace
business park, with regard to the appropriate level of future housing provision in the Vale.
6.14           Service Infrastructure in General
All mains services are available on the site and detailed discussions with the utility providers
will be undertaken with regard to programming and the potential upgrade of the existing
infrastructure. Due to the age and condition of the current service infrastructure within the site,
the renewal of the entire internal gas, water supply and drainage system will be investigated.
The existing configuration of the service infrastructure within the site is unlikely to be suitable
for the needs of either the Training Academy, or the WAG aerospace proposals and it will
probably be more cost effective to replace the entire ageing infrastructure. MoD Project
Aquatrine will be consulted as necessary in connection with any proposals for the site.
6.15           Natural Gas Distribution
The main gas distribution pipeline on the St Athan site was replaced between 1999-2002. The
condition of the spurs from the main pipeline to individual buildings is unknown, although it is
considered that reinforcement of the existing supply will be necessary to serve the proposed
6.16           Potable Water Main and Supply
The main water distribution pipeline is cast iron and was installed during the Second World
War. Due to its rapid installation, it is known to have been laid directly onto the underlying
rock with little or no pipe bedding. As such, a number of shear failures have occurred over the
years due to ground movement and the inflexibility of the pipe bedding.
Prior to 1997, the St Athan site was fed from a hard water borehole source. This supply was
switched to a soft water reservoir source. As a result the softer, more corrosive, water supply is
thought to have accelerated pipe corrosion and leaching of iron from the internal surface of the
pipes. In order to provide an assessment of the remaining service life of the pipeline, it will be
necessary to undertake a condition assessment. However, as much of the water distribution
pipeline will require diversion to accommodate the development at the site, the system would be
enhanced as part of the development. It is also considered that reinforcement of the existing
supply volume will be necessary to serve the proposed development.
6.17           Fire Main
The fire main distribution system was installed within the last 10 years. Due to its age and the
fact that the installation was in accordance with current regulations, its state is assumed to be in
good condition. The fire main network supply is located at the base of the water tower in West
Camp (Building 160), within the Army Boundary. This is a strategic location and the network
emanating from this point will be maintained and extended.
6.18           Foul Water Drainage
Foul water drainage on the St Athan site comprises three independent drainage routes.
Route 1 is a 225mm diameter pipe discharge from the majority of East Camp, except the
buildings in the South East corner of the East Camp and those at Beggars Pound. The general
condition of this length of foul water drainage is fair.
Route 2 is the primary foul water drainage serving the Picketson area. The system receives foul
discharge from all buildings in Picketson except Hanger 858 and administration offices 856.
The discharge from these buildings is received by a foul pumping station adjacent to Hanger
858. A 150mm diameter runs to an off-site outlet into the Welsh Water foul water main in
Eglwys Brewis Road, near RAF St Athan North Gate.
Route 3 connects off-site to the Welsh Water foul main, adjacent to North Gate. In reaching
this outfall, the sewer crosses from the WAG controlled West Camp and through the Army land.
This represents the only means of draining foul water from the WDA site. The sewer comprises
150mm diameter vitrified clay and 260mm diameter concrete pipework. The overall condition
of the pipework is fair.
6.19          Sewage Treatment Works
Flow rate and volume will be assessed to determine if there is a cost-benefit advantage in
providing new sewage plant on site, or pay the utility costs for reliance on the off-site
6.20          Surface Water Drainage
The surface water drainage comprises two independent drainage routes.
Route 1 is a 150mm diameter vitrified pipe at the head of a run to a 600mm diameter concrete
pipe at the outfall. The pipe serves the majority of East Camp and discharges into the Rhyl
Stream. The general condition of this length of surface water drainage is fair.
Route 2 is the West Camp surface water system which discharges off-site into the Welsh Water
surface water main, adjacent to North Gate. As with the foul water sewer, this represents the
only means of draining surface water from the WDA site. The route is formed of 300mm
diameter vitrified clay and 750mm diameter concrete pipework. The general condition of this
length of drainage is poor and repairs to the pipes will need to be carried out.
Surface water drainage systems will be provided at St Athan as gravity systems. Where
appropriate, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) will be incorporated to provide the
necessary attenuation and to control the outflow.
The site requirements for grey water (non potable water) will be assessed. Boot washing and
vehicle mud removal washing operations, using grey water systems, will be investigated.
In creating attenuation provision for the St Athan site, any stored supply of surface water may
be utilised for the above operations, thus reducing the potable water consumption on the site.
6.21          Electricity Supply
The medium voltage electricity ring main at the St Athan site comprises a combination of old
and new underground cabling. The proposed development will create an additional demand that
will require the reinforcement of the existing supply and the introduction of strategically placed
electricity sub-stations. A new low voltage distribution system will be required to serve the
6.22          Telecommunications
The existing telecommunications network will need to be extended to cover the new
development at St Athan. New lines will need to be provided to the buildings proposed on the
site, which will need to take account of future requirements in conjunction with the latest
broadband technology to facilitate high speed internet connections.
7.        Planning Requirements
7.1       Introduction
The adoption of the Development Brief will lead to the submission of planning applications.
With regard to the Training Academy proposals, the planning application will be the subject of
an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which will result in the preparation and publication
of an Environmental Statement that will set out the likely impacts of the development and how
those affects will be mitigated. The planning application will also be supported by a Transport
Assessment, a Flood Consequences Assessment, and any other necessary strategies and studies.
Any eventual planning permission will be the subject of conditions and legal agreement.
7.2       Planning Obligations
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has published a Background Paper on Planning Obligations.
The Background Paper has been prepared in the context of Planning Policy Wales (2002) as
additional information for the adopted Vale of Glamorgan Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
and explains the Council’s planning policy for seeking and implementing planning obligations.
Welsh Office Circular 13/97 on Planning Obligations lays down 5 tests that must be met for the
Council to seek planning obligations. They must be:
•    Necessary;
•    Relevant to planning;
•    Directly related to the proposed development;
•    Fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the proposed development; and
•    Reasonable in all other respects.
In addition, the Circular states “local planning authorities and developers should place more
emphasis on the overall quality of a development proposal than on the number and nature (or
value) of planning benefit they can obtain or offer.” Where a condition could be used to secure
the same end as a legal agreement, in accordance with the policy tests of Welsh Office Circular
35/95 (The Use of Conditions in Planning Permissions), then the Local Authority should use
conditions rather than a planning obligation. Planning obligations are therefore a means to
legally secure benefits to the community when they cannot be achieved by conditions.
The type of situations where the Local Planning Authority will seek a planning obligation are as
•    Restrict development or use of land;
•    Require operations or activities to be carried out in, on, under or over land;
•   Require land to be used in a specified way; or
•   Require payments to be made to the authority either in a single sum or periodically.
The type of planning obligation that will be sought by the Local Planning Authority for such a
development as the Training Academy are as follows:
•   The timing of the means of access to the site
•   The safeguarding of access to other land (e.g. the aeronautical business park)
•   Off-site highway works (including works associated with traffic diverted as a result of the
stopping up of a highway and improvements relating to walking and cycling). N.B. A
Section 278 agreement will also be required.
•   Public transport facilities and contributions
•   Any necessary service infrastructure improvements (e.g. in relation to sewage disposal,
reinforcement of water supply, etc)
•   Family quarters (i.e. housing that is only available to, and therefore tied to, military
personnel and their dependents)
•   The provision of any necessary improvements to childcare and family facilities as a result of
the provision of family quarters
•   Meeting any deficiencies in the provision of particular education, health, community, or
social facilities that need to be addressed as a result of the provision of family quarters
•   Replacement of any necessary existing facilities (e.g. Spar shop)
•   The provision of wider community facilities including provision of social and linked
7.3      Planning Conditions
Other matters, as listed below, could be dealt with by planning conditions.
•   The details of the siting, design, external appearance of the buildings on the site
•   Any outstanding details of the means of access to the site
•   Restrictions on the use of the living accommodation;
•   Details of the routing and management of construction traffic
•   Parking within the site
•   Green Transport Plan
•   Landscaping of the site
•   Provision of open space and recreational and sports facilities
•   Drainage details
•   Ecological measures, including any relocation (if outside the site this could involve a
planning obligation)
•   Any necessary archeological survey prior to development
•   Waste recycling facilities
•   Details of remediation of contamination on the site
8.       Planning Application Programme
8.1      Planning Application Programme
The planning application programme and timetable is attached in the form of a Gantt Chart.
Development Brief &amp; Planning Application Schedule
ID    WBS      Task Name                                                                        Duration        Start          Finish      December 2005   January 2006   February 2006   March 2006           April 2006           May 2006      June 2006      July 2006         August 2006   September 2006         October 2006   November 2006     December 2006        January 2007            February 2007    March 2007           April 2007           May 2007             June 2007
1    1        Initial Consultations                                                               25 days    Fri 06/01/06    Fri 10/02/06
2     1.1          Steering Group                                                                 25 days     Fri 06/01/06    Fri 10/02/06
9     1.2          Planning Group Meetings                                                        20 days    Thu 12/01/06    Thu 09/02/06
13    1.3          Transport Group Meetings                                                       22 days    Tue 10/01/06    Thu 09/02/06
19    1.4          Quality of Life Group Meetings                                                 20 days     Fri 13/01/06    Fri 10/02/06
23    2        Development Brief                                                                 116 days    Mon 30/01/06     Fri 14/07/06
24    2.1          Draft Brief prepared                                                            10 days   Mon 30/01/06     Fri 10/02/06
25    2.2          Internal and Member Consultation by Vale Officers                               10 days   Mon 13/02/06     Fri 24/02/06
26    2.3          Report prepared by Vale Officers for Cabinet Meeting                             3 days   Mon 27/02/06    Wed 01/03/06
27    2.4          Cabinet Meeting                                                                  0 days   Wed 15/03/06    Wed 15/03/06                                                              15/03
28    2.5          Report &amp; Draft Brief to EER Scrutiny Committee                                   0 days   Tue 28/03/06    Tue 28/03/06                                                                      28/03
29    2.6          Report and Draft Brief to Planning Committee                                     0 days   Wed 05/04/06    Wed 05/04/06                                                                              05/04
30    2.7          Amended Report and Draft Brief to Planning Committee (if required)               0 days    Fri 28/04/06    Fri 28/04/06                                                                                          28/04
31    2.8          Report and Draft brief to Council (departure from UDP)                           0 days   Wed 03/05/06    Wed 03/05/06                                                                                              03/05
32    2.9          Public Consultation on Draft Brief                                              20 days   Wed 03/05/06    Wed 31/05/06
33    2.10         Results of Public Consultation &amp; amendments to Cabinet and Committees           10 days   Thu 01/06/06    Wed 14/06/06
34    2.11         Final Development Brief adopted by Council                                      10 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 14/07/06
35    3        Preparation of Master Plan ( Scott Brownrigg)                                     102 days    Tue 29/08/06    Tue 23/01/07
36    3.1          Review and Revision to Master Plan 1                                             5 days   Tue 29/08/06    Mon 04/09/06
37    3.2          Master Plan Fix for EIA Assessments                                              5 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 09/10/06                                                                                                                                                                         Fix
38    3.3          Preparation of Planning Application Plans                                       71 days   Tue 10/10/06    Mon 22/01/07
39    3.4          Review and Revision to Master Plan 2                                             2 days   Tue 14/11/06    Wed 15/11/06
40    3.5          Finalisation of Master Plan                                                       1 day   Tue 23/01/07    Tue 23/01/07                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Final
41    4        Public Consultation                                                               157 days    Tue 10/10/06    Tue 22/05/07
42    4.1          Initial Public Consultation                                                      5 days   Tue 10/10/06    Mon 16/10/06
43    4.2          Second Public Consultation                                                       5 days   Thu 16/11/06    Wed 22/11/06
44    4.3          Third Public Consultation                                                        5 days   Tue 23/01/07    Mon 29/01/07
45    4.4          21 day Planning Application/EIA Statutory Consultation Period                   21 days   Wed 31/01/07    Wed 28/02/07
46    4.5          Press Release                                                                    0 days   Tue 22/05/07    Tue 22/05/07                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         22/05
47    5        Preparation of Phasing Plan                                                        95 days    Mon 03/07/06    Mon 13/11/06
48    5.1          Preparation of Phasing Plan (part 1)                                            25 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 04/08/06
49    5.2          Preparation of Phasing Plan (part 2)                                            30 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 13/11/06
50    6        Environmental Impact Assessment                                                   142 days    Mon 03/07/06    Tue 23/01/07
51    6.1          Air Quality Scoping                                                             40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
52    6.2          Air Quality Assessment                                                          40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
53    6.3          Hydrology Scoping (Surface Water Resources and Quality Including Flood          40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
54    6.4          Hydrology Assessment (Surface Water Resources and Quality Including             40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
Flood Risk Assessment)
55    6.5          Flood Risk Assessment Report                                                     5 days   Tue 28/11/06    Mon 04/12/06
56    6.6          Hydrogeology Scoping (Groundwater Resource and Quality)                         40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
57    6.7          Hydrogeology Assessment (Groundwater Resource and Quality)                      40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
58    6.8          Land Quality Scoping                                                            40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
59    6.9          Land Quality Assessment                                                         40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
60    6.10         Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Scoping                                       40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
61    6.11         Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Assessment                                    40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
62    6.12         Landscape and visual Scoping                                                    40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
63    6.13         Landscape and visual Assessment                                                 40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
64    6.14         Ecological Surveys (Indicative only. See attached note, Surveys Dependent       30 days   Mon 03/07/06    Tue 07/11/06
on Seasons)
65    6.15         Ecology Scoping                                                                 40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
66    6.16         Ecology Assessment                                                              40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
67    6.17         Noise Survey part 1 (in Dry Calm Weather, when Site is Active)                   8 days   Mon 03/07/06    Wed 12/07/06
68    6.18         Noise Survey part 2 (in Dry Calm Weather, when Site is Active)                   7 days   Tue 03/10/06    Wed 11/10/06
69    6.19         Noise and Vibration Scoping                                                     40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
70    6.20         Noise and Vibration Assessment                                                  40 days   Thu 12/10/06    Wed 06/12/06
71    6.21         Socio-economics Scoping                                                         40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
72    6.22         Socio-economics Assessment                                                      40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
73    6.23         Traffic and Transport Scoping                                                   40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
74    6.24         Traffic and Transport Assessment                                                40 days   Tue 03/10/06    Mon 27/11/06
75    6.25         EIA Request Scoping Opinion from LPA                                            25 days   Tue 29/08/06    Mon 02/10/06
76    6.26         EIA Review                                                                      20 days   Thu 07/12/06    Tue 09/01/07
77    6.27         Preparation of Environmental Statement                                          30 days   Thu 07/12/06    Tue 23/01/07
78    7        Preparation of Assessments and Studies                                            125 days    Mon 03/07/06    Thu 28/12/06
79    7.1          Scoping of planning application studies with LPA                                 0 days   Mon 03/07/06    Mon 03/07/06                                                                                                                           03/07
80    7.2          Pre-application Meetings with LPA (Indicative only. to be agreed with LPA)       4 days   Tue 01/08/06    Thu 28/12/06
81    7.3          Transport Assessment                                                          100 days    Mon 03/07/06    Mon 20/11/06
82    7.3.1             Scoping of TA                                                              40 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 25/08/06
83    7.3.2             Preparation of TA (traffic assessment outputs)                             20 days   Tue 29/08/06    Mon 25/09/06
84    7.3.3             Finalisation of TA                                                         35 days   Tue 26/09/06    Mon 13/11/06
85    7.3.4             Preparation of Green Travel Plan                                            5 days   Tue 14/11/06    Mon 20/11/06
86    7.4          Planning Application Support Documents                                        115 days    Mon 03/07/06    Mon 11/12/06
87    7.4.1             Tree Condition Survey (Sub-consultant)                                     20 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 28/07/06
88    7.4.2             Landscape Strategy Part 1 (HLM consultants)                                10 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 14/07/06
89    7.4.3             Landscape Strategy Part 2 (HLM consultants)                                 5 days   Mon 17/07/06     Fri 21/07/06
90    7.4.4             Agricultural Land Report (for St. Athan)                                   10 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 14/07/06
91    7.4.5             Surface Water Drainage Strategy (CJP Consultants)                          30 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 11/08/06
92    7.4.6             Foul Water Drainage Strategy (CJP Consultants)                             30 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 11/08/06
93    7.4.7             Waste Management Strategy                                                  30 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 11/08/06
94    7.4.8             Land Quality Assessment Phase 1 Survey (if Required)                       20 days   Mon 03/07/06     Fri 28/07/06
95    7.4.9             Land Quality Assessment Phase 2 Survey (if Required)                       60 days   Mon 31/07/06    Mon 23/10/06
96    7.4.10            Sustainability Appraisal                                                   29 days   Mon 03/07/06    Thu 10/08/06
97    7.4.11            Ecomomic Impact Assessment                                                 29 days   Mon 03/07/06    Thu 10/08/06
98    7.4.12            Produce Planning Statement (Policy background, proposals, issues           15 days   Tue 21/11/06    Mon 11/12/06
99    7.5          Finalisation of Assessments &amp; Studies                                          34 days    Wed 08/11/06    Thu 28/12/06
100   7.5.1             Finalisation of Studies and Assessments                                    15 days   Wed 08/11/06    Tue 28/11/06
101   7.5.2             Collation of Studies and Assessments                                       10 days   Tue 12/12/06    Thu 28/12/06
102   8        Planning Application Preparation                                                   22 days     Fri 29/12/06   Tue 30/01/07
103   8.1          Finalise and Copy Planning Application Documents and Plans                      10 days    Fri 29/12/06    Fri 12/01/07
104   8.2          Submit Planning Application to LPA                                                1 day   Tue 30/01/07    Tue 30/01/07                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             30/01
105   8.3         Public Consultation on Planning Application and the Environmental                 5 days   Tue 23/01/07    Mon 29/01/07
106   9        Consideration of Planning Application by the LPA                                  112 days    Tue 12/12/06    Tue 22/05/07
107   9.1          Consideration of Planning Application &amp; ES by the LPA                           80 days   Wed 31/01/07    Tue 22/05/07
108   9.2          Legal Agreement Negotiations (Indicative only)                                  80 days   Tue 12/12/06     Fri 06/04/07
109   9.3          Planning Permission issued by the LPA                                            0 days   Tue 22/05/07    Tue 22/05/07
\\ELEAFS03\DATA\DATA\Projects\EA-210\#16000 Projects\16057 DTR\2 Project Management\Schedules\Planning\Outline Overall Schedule v1 ( Start Jan 06).mpp
"St Athan Development Brief"
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health needs assessment st athan technical ... - Health in Wales
THE WELSH MINISTERS (ST ATHAN, VALE OF GLAMORGAN) COMPULSORY - DOC
St. Patrick's Street Development Brief