Plans for a 198-bed care home which were refused last year have been given the go-ahead.

Members of Denbighshire’ planning committee approved by 13 votes to two a fresh application by Star Units Ltd for the development on St Asaph Business Park.

Officers had recommended that the scheme be rejected on the grounds that the use was incompatible with the site alongside the busy A55 dual-carriageway and adjacent to the TRB Ltd motor components factory.

Dylan Southern, one of the partners behind the project, told the committee that efforts to market the site for industry over many years had proved unsuccessful and that the three-storey home would provide much-needed modern amenities at a time when many existing homes were not up to standard.

One of the arguments put forward by officers against the development was that the traffic noise would mean that the windows could not be opened even in hot weather but Mr Southern said a sophisticated air conditioning system would be installed.

Corporate director Nicola Stubbins argued that care home residents should be able to access local community amenities.

“I don’t think the proposal provides an acceptable level of amenity for the residents,” she said.

She also told members that during the Covid pandemic the guidance was that windows be opened whenever possible and that was a concern because of the likely noise.

Cllr Joan Butterfield said the development would provide high-quality facilities for the growing number of elderly people needing rehabilitation after discharge from hospital.

Supporting the application, Cllr Brian Jones said the officers had recently supported an application for a similar use alongside the main railway line in Rhyl.

“It makes the concerns over this scheme look pretty silly,” he commented.

Planning development manager Paul Mead pointed out, however, that the change of use of land had not been an issue over the Rhyl site.

Though the application was granted the conditions to be imposed covering features such the windows will be discussed at a future meeting.