Agenda item

To consider an application for conversion, restoration, part demolition and adaptation of main range of listed buildings to residential use (34 dwellings), and development of land within the hospital grounds for mixed uses as enabling development, including up to 200 no. residential units and up to 1114 square metres of business units, access and associated works at former North Wales Hospital, Denbigh (copy attached).

[Councillors Raymond Bartley and Mark Young declared a personal interest because they were members of the Denbigh Town Council.]

[Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies declared a personal interest because he worked at the hospital previously.]

An application was submitted for conversion, restoration, part demolition and adaptation of main range of listed buildings to residential use (34 dwellings), and development of land within the hospital grounds for mixed uses as enabling development, including up to 200 no. residential units and up to 1114 square metres of business units, access and associated works at the former North Wales Hospital, Denbigh.

General Debate – The Planning Officer (IW) provided some background information touching on the history of the site, including closure in 1995 and the listed status of the buildings, which were considered by CADW to be the best example of their type in Wales. Planning policies had been developed which allowed for enabling development to help generate capital to assist with the restoration of the buildings. The application was similar in nature to one granted permission in 2006.

It was confirmed that the current owner of the site was Freemont (Denbigh) Ltd., but the applicant for the planning application was the Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) acting on behalf of the North Wales Building Preservation Trust (NWBPT).  The Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) had been confirmed, but a General Vesting Declaration (GVD) remained to be served, which would require authorisation from Planning Committee.  On execution of the GVD and the passing of the vesting date, then the title would pass to the council.  Once the council had taken ownership of the site, they would pass it on immediately to the NWBPT. The Trust had been set up to deal with complicated and large Listed Buildings throughout the UK.  Once the ownership was transferred to NWBPT they may be able to access various grant aid to assist with the development.

There was no affordable housing provision as part of the application, although there would be opportunity for a Housing Association to purchase some of the land to build homes.

Highways officers had no objection to the application subject to inclusion of standard conditions requiring approval of full details of highway works, internal estate roads and associated infrastructure, construction method statement(s), and improvement of cycle and pedestrian links with the town.

The development proposals involved the restoration of the main Listed Building.  Some buildings on the site would be demolished.  There were no specific proposals in the application in relation to the Nurses Home, the Chapel, Mortuary or Aled Ward buildings which were indicated as “buildings which could be retained if a suitable end use was found and viability allowed”.

The Head of Planning and Public Protection confirmed that at this stage the costings were essentially a ‘paper exercise’ as when the land was purchased and houses were built and started to sell, there would be more confidence in the housing market and prices may increase.  If expectations were exceeded, the Trust would allocate the finance to save other buildings within the site. 

In relation to the issue of bats, it was confirmed that mitigation measures would be implemented to address impacts on European protected species.

Councillor Colin Hughes, (Ward Member) offered his support for the development of the site and stated its importance to the town of Denbigh.   Councillor Hughes urged Planning Committee to vote in favour of the planning application.  At this juncture, he expressed his gratitude to all the councillors, officers and the Prince’s Regeneration Trust who had been involved with the project over a number of years.

Officers confirmed that proposals for the promotion / enhancement of the Welsh language as part of the development would be included within the legal agreement related to the planning permission. As this was a large development site, it was confirmed that risks were to be monitored and reports would continue to be presented to Planning Committee.The current owners were still able to sell the site until the GVD had been served.  The charitable Trust wanted to save the listed buildings and not make a profit.

VOTE:

GRANT – 21

ABSTAIN – 0

REFUSE – 0

RESOLVED that the planning application be GRANTED, in accordance with the officer recommendation as detailed within the report.

At this juncture, the Chair, Councillor Raymond Bartley expressed his gratitude to all officers, Phil Ebbrell who has since retired and the late Jane Kennedy, Senior Solicitor for all their work on the project.