AN MP is calling for £10million to be invested into an alternative venture after a project to build hundreds of homes in Bodelwyddan was dropped from the North Wales Growth Deal.

Dr James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd, wanted the money - earmarked for the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic Site - to be put towards other economic development projects in Denbighshire.

Dr Davies made the request in Parliament when questioning the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, MP, over what steps his Department is taking to help deliver the North Wales Growth Deal.

Mr Davies informed Dr Davies that The Wales Office has been "fully supporting" the North Wales Growth Deal as it begins to deliver projects on the ground, and that his officials will work "closely" with "all partners" in North Wales to ensure that the deal continues to deliver growth and investment across the region.

Dr Davies then raised the funding which had been allocated for the now withdrawn project and asked whether this money could be utilised for other projects in Denbighshire.

He said: "Perhaps inevitably, not all projects initially identified for delivery through the North Wales Growth Deal can be progressed, and that applies to the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic Site.

“Will he encourage a flexible approach to diverting the £10 million of funds that had been earmarked to Bodelwyddan to other economic development projects within Denbighshire?”

David TC Davies replied: “Obviously, it is for Ambition North Wales to bring forward projects for the UK Government and the Welsh Government to approve, but we have taken a very flexible view of the whole thing.”

He went on to assure Dr Davies that despite the international financial problems, which all countries are facing at the moment, the UK Government “remain absolutely committed to support jobs, driving growth and levelling up across the whole of the United Kingdom, including in his constituency”.

Support for the Bodelwyddan project was withdrawn in late September. 

A spokesperson for Ambtion North Wales said at the time: "Following extensive discussions between Denbighshire County Council and Ambition North Wales, the decision has been made to withdraw the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic Site project from the North Wales Growth Deal. 

"This decision comes from the Denbighshire County Council’s review of the Local Development Plan, with the evidence confirming a decrease in the need for new houses in Denbighshire, resulting in much smaller project. In addition to the number of homes being much lower, a significant amount of funding would be needed for infrastructure purposes (regardless of the number of homes).    

"All Growth Deal projects are required to deliver an agreed set of benefits to the region by 2036. As a result of the changes to the project, the benefits would be substantially smaller than originally set out and would not be realised within the timeframe of the deal. 

"Both Denbighshire County Council and Ambition North Wales, agrees this is the right decision as any development would need to secure value for money (and using public funds). We agree there is no justification in progressing with the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic site.  

"The funding provisionally allocated to this project will be retained within the Growth Deal and Ambition North Wales will now consider how best to use this funding to deliver maximum benefits for the region."

Dr Davies added: “It would be a great loss to Denbighshire to miss out on this substantial sum of money, so I very much welcome the flexible approach that the UK Government has adopted and hope that the funds can be successfully redirected to other economic development projects in Denbighshire.”