A FORMER library building will be reduced to rubble to make way for social-rented homes.

Denbighshire County Council have lodged plans to demolish the former Prestatyn library, on Nant Hall Road, and build a three-and-a-half storey building to contain two commercial units on the ground floor and 14 one-bedroom residential apartments on the upper floors.

The application also includes re-landscaping works on the former library site, as well as the adjacent Llys Bodnant residential development.

External works include the formation of new parking bays, a bin store - shared between both developments, a new vehicular exit leading onto Nant Hall Road and a new one-way vehicular entrance/exit route.

A Design and Access document states: “The proposed scheme will provide flexible commercial space on the ground floor and accessible and adaptable one-bedroom apartments on the upper storeys. The social rented apartments would be provided to people over the age of 55. Off street parking will be provided at the back of the site, with vehicular access gained from the existing Llys Bodnant development, via Glyn Avenue. Car parking provision for 18 no vehicles would be provided at the rear of the buildings towards the South-East end of the site.

"The proposed development relates to the demolition of the existing former library building and the erection of a scheme incorporating two commercial units at ground floor and a total of 14 one-bedroom social rented apartments on three upper floors.

"The accommodation would be provided for those over the age of 55 and the units would be classed as C3 residential dwellings.

“Prestatyn has the second highest level of unmet need for social housing in Denbighshire.

“Analysis of the single housing register for the county demonstrates that the greatest need for social rented homes in the town is for one-bedroom apartments suitable for older residents.

“The council’s existing housing portfolio in the town includes a number of apartments but a high proportion of these are neither accessible nor adaptable. With its town centre location and proximity to shops and services, the library site is a particularly suitable location for a development which would go some way to addressing this deficit.

“The unusually strong demand for town centre property in Prestatyn has resulted in very few voids and limited opportunities to bring new shops and services to the town centre.

“With its strategic location between the town’s shopping park and the town’s traditional High Street offer, the former library site also presents an opportunity to provide additional commercial space at ground floor level.”

The application states that the former library was replaced as the town’s main library building back in 2014 when a new library was formed.

Following this move, the former library has become ‘surplus to the Council’s requirements’.

“The council are seeking to redevelop the site,” the application adds.

“Likely built between the 1970’s-1980’s, the building is in poor condition and thermally inefficient.

“Given the convenient location of the building within the town of Prestatyn, the council seek to redevelop the site and form a new development that makes a positive contribution to the area and improves social housing needs within the town.”

The build was occupied by Artisans Collective CIC. This was by short-term lease arrangement.

The documents concludes: " This Design and Access statement, scheme drawings and supporting documents demonstrate how current guidance and planning policies have been considered in the design of the new building to provide a solution that will be of positive benefit to the community and will not have an unacceptable effect on the character and appearance of the site."