Plans for new affordable Rhyl homes recommended for approval

Wales & West Housing Association and Anwyl Construction Company wants to oversee a major development on land south of Ffordd Elsie, comprising the following:

• Six one-bedroom flats.
• Two one-bedroom bungalows.
• Two two-bedroom bungalows.
• One three-bedroom, fully adapted bungalow.
• 26 two-bedroom houses.
• 18 three-bedroom houses.
• Four four-bedroom houses.

Ahead of the application coming before Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (September 2), officers from the local authority have recommended that consent be granted.

This is despite 30 objections being lodged by members of the public, including Clwyd MS Darren Millar, and residents of Ffordd Elsie and nearby streets Rhodfa Logan, Maes Farrelly and Ffordd Aberkinsey.

Objections included that the development will cause an “enormous loss of green area” and the “unjustified loss of agricultural land,” as well as a potential increase in antisocial behaviour, noise and traffic.

Concerns were also raised that it could place “huge burdens” on public services, such as schools, doctors and dentists.

If successfully granted planning permission, the development would be supported through the award of Social Housing Grant, which is strategically managed by the council.

Extracts from a report by council planning officers read: “Officers do not consider the proposal would give rise to unacceptable impacts on residential amenity.

“This proposal is considered to provide an overriding public need… it will improve the quality of housing stock and provide 59 new affordable properties for local people in an area with high demand and there is no satisfactory alternative.

“The proposal, subject to the inclusion of conditions, would not have an unacceptable impact on visual amenity.

“Officers consider the opportunity to deliver 59 affordable homes in a sustainable location on land which abuts the development boundary and forms a logical extension to Rhyl to be acceptable.”

Planning permission was recommended with numerous conditions, including an obligation to secure an open space contribution of £13,272.06; a sum to fund a bus shelter, and a sum of £70,000 to be used by the council in maintaining the great crested newt mitigation land.

Rhyl Town Council, Natural Resources Wales and Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water raised no objections to the proposal when consulted on it.