PLANS to build more than 1700 houses, a care home and a hotel next to the marble church at Bodelwyddan have been condemned by a North Wales AM.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, hit out at plans submitted to Denbighshire County Council by developer Barwood Land and Estates claiming they were “not wanted by the community” and labelled the idea of having a hotel built next to a prominent landmark a “disgrace”.

He said: “The overall scheme – which will see the village treble in size with an additional 4,000 people – is fundamentally flawed.

“The new town will have one extra school, yet the developer admits there will be an extra 525 children. Will those children be crammed into the one school?

“There is no provision for additional health needs. Does Barwood not think these 4,000 newcomers will need a health centre?”

A Denbighshire Council spokesperson confirmed an application had been lodged and that it would be voted on by planning committee members later this year.

Planning applications are usually decided by local planning authorities but some applications are “called in” for the Minister to consider.

Town Councillor Derek Barker said Bodelwyddan Town Council had resolved to make such a request and that a letter had already been drafted to the Minister for Environment at the National Assembly.

He said: “We are calling on MP Ruane and AM Miller, Jones and Gruffydd together with the local county councillor to make similar representation.

“If this goes ahead, the village is going to be left as a glorified building site for years.

“The letter circulated to residents by DCC saying that this application may go to planning committee wasn’t acceptable - it is something you would receive if you were building an extension.”

A spokesperson from Barwood and Land Estates stated that an application was submitted to DCC following a public exhibition of proposals.

The company said that the planning application was consistent with the key aspect of DCC’s local development plan (LDP).

Cllr James Davies said that the development was “probable” following the planning inspector’s decision about the LDP last year.

He said: “It will certainly change the village and the challenge is to ensure that whatever is built is of good quality, minimises impact on existing residents, incorporates necessary public facilities and helps boost the local economy.”