PLANNERS are gearing up to discuss and vote on a application to build 133 homes on farmland, despite it being turned down last month.

Penrhyn Homes Ltd submitted an application to Denbighshire council for 133 new homes at Mindale Farm. Members of the planning committee voted to reject the application in September. It is now set to return to the planning committee on October 9.

Bob Paterson, of Mindale Opposition Group, understands there will be a new a report highlighting financial risk to the council.

Penrhyn Homes believe the application had been called back due to the ‘housing deficit’.

A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said: “The application will be brought back to the planning committee under the terms of our adopted planning scheme of delegation.

"Cllr Tony Thomas raised concerns about the decision and contacted the Monitoring Officer. The Head of Planning and Public Protection can, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer, refer planning application decisions back to the planning committee where the decision gives rise to a significant risk of costs being awarded against the Council at any subsequent planning appeal or other legal challenge.

“The referral gives members of the planning committee the opportunity to review their decision and the reasons for it. They can make the same decision, but will have had any financial or other risks explained to them.

"This is a standard procedure used by the planning committee to ensure robust decisions are made.”

Mr Paterson, who will be speaking at the next meeting, said: “I have respect for cllr Thomas, but he is one councillor who was only elected at the last elections, just how much experience of the complicated planning issues does he have? Also, the decision made reflected the opinion of 10 councillors, this included the chair of planning who is an experienced councillor, only three voted to grant permission.

“There are a lot of properties around that could cater for the shortage of houses. When I looked on Rightmove, there were 199 houses for sale within a one mile radius of Meliden. There is only 11 rental properties.

“As the main reasons to refuse this application. flooding risk, traffic on the A547, maintain the village as a village, historic mine workings where access road would be and poor infrastructure have not changed I do not see why any committee member should change their vote?

“I have been told that an application like this has only been brought back three times within 18 years.”

Another resident who asked not to be named said: “Denbighshire Planning Committee refused planning on the 133 home development in September. There was a separate application for a new access road which was also refused.

"The Council’s head of planning and the head of legal have now taken the rare action of referring the two refusals back to the next meeting of the planning committee on October 9, asking the Councillors to think again.

“The housing at Mindale Farm is included in the Local Plan and was recommended to be accepted by the planning officers. The two senior officers anticipate that since the councillors ignored officers’ advice, the Council could face significant costs at a future.”

A spokesperson for Penrhyn Homes said: “We are local builders and we employ local tradesmen, this development will be a great development for the local jobs and the economy.

“We are here to build new houses for young families for the local area where there is a large demand. We are also contributing to the local primary school, Welsh Language and providing affordable housing.

“We have worked hard with all consultees and met all planning polices and relevant standards in order to construct a deliverable development.”