Denbigh hospital housing plan is welcomed
Evening Leader
A MAJOR development at the former North Wales Hospital site has received tentative backing.
Members of Denbigh Town Council considered a proposed application at the site and Cllr Graham Maudsley, chairman of the council's planning committee, said: "Just to give quick background to everybody, they have outlined two phases."
The first phase is to build 220 three-bedroom and nearly 100 four-bedroom dwellings.
Phase two in the main hospital site will see the creation of apartments, office space and a community facility.
Cllr Rob Parkes responded: "I am just surprised looking at the plans and the size of it.
"It pretty much looks like a small village – I'm pretty unsure about it one way or the other."
Cllr Peter Glynn said: "If it comes off it's going to change Denbigh forever," and added that the "status quo must change in some way".
Cllr John Larsen said the fact the plans were "not high density" was a positive, while Cllr Colin L. Hughes, referring to the community facility, said: "Do they mean the whole town is the community?
"I would like clarification of that... if that's the case are they going to allow the town to use that... building?"
The deputy mayor, Cllr Ian Davies, said: "Whatever development comes to the hospital site, they need to be mindful of the volume of the traffic and highways issues.
"Another thing is the use of public transport to get to the site."
Cllr Davies also felt there would be a potential for the impact on the Welsh language and culture with regard to the proposals.
Cllr Raymond Bartley said it would be a long time before there was a development in the grounds of the North Wales Hospital site.
He said people also had to take into consideration the interest the Prince of Wales is showing because you have got a lot of listed buildings there.
He added: "The actual development of the land I think will be a long way off.
"There's going to be many, many plans coming through this council. In principle one has got to vote for this."
In a recorded vote, five councillors backed the application, with just one against.
Members of Denbigh Town Council considered a proposed application at the site and Cllr Graham Maudsley, chairman of the council's planning committee, said: "Just to give quick background to everybody, they have outlined two phases."
The first phase is to build 220 three-bedroom and nearly 100 four-bedroom dwellings.
Phase two in the main hospital site will see the creation of apartments, office space and a community facility.
Cllr Rob Parkes responded: "I am just surprised looking at the plans and the size of it.
"It pretty much looks like a small village – I'm pretty unsure about it one way or the other."
Cllr Peter Glynn said: "If it comes off it's going to change Denbigh forever," and added that the "status quo must change in some way".
Cllr John Larsen said the fact the plans were "not high density" was a positive, while Cllr Colin L. Hughes, referring to the community facility, said: "Do they mean the whole town is the community?
"I would like clarification of that... if that's the case are they going to allow the town to use that... building?"
The deputy mayor, Cllr Ian Davies, said: "Whatever development comes to the hospital site, they need to be mindful of the volume of the traffic and highways issues.
"Another thing is the use of public transport to get to the site."
Cllr Davies also felt there would be a potential for the impact on the Welsh language and culture with regard to the proposals.
Cllr Raymond Bartley said it would be a long time before there was a development in the grounds of the North Wales Hospital site.
He said people also had to take into consideration the interest the Prince of Wales is showing because you have got a lot of listed buildings there.
He added: "The actual development of the land I think will be a long way off.
"There's going to be many, many plans coming through this council. In principle one has got to vote for this."
In a recorded vote, five councillors backed the application, with just one against.
This article was
published by Evening Leader
on Friday, October 10