Agenda item

To consider an application for the conversion, restoration, part demolition and adaptation of main range listed buildings to residential use (34 dwellings); demolition of Nurses Home, Mortuary, Isolation ward, Aled ward and former gasworks buildings; and development of land within the hospital grounds for mixed use as enabling development, including up to 300 no. residential units and up to 1114 square metres of business units (comprising a mix of A1, A2, A3, B1, C1, C2, C3, D1 and D2 uses); siting of the Denbigh Cricket Club; and construction of access, drainage and associated works (copy attached).

An application was submitted for the conversion, restoration, part demolition and adaptation of main range listed buildings to residential use (34 dwellings); demolition of Nurses Homes, Mortuary, Isolation ward, Aled ward and former gasworks building; and development of land within the hospital grounds for mixed use enabling development including up to 300 no. residential units and up to 1114 square metres of business units; siting of Denbigh Cricket Club; and construction of access, drainage and associated works.

The Chair referred members to the officer notes detailed in the supplementary papers.

The Development Manager gave a brief background to the application to the Committee.

The planning application was originally presented and discussed by Denbighshire County Council Planning Committee on Wednesday 8 September 2021 and planning permission was granted subject to the details of the legal agreement and planning conditions returning to Planning Committee for further decision. Members would be aware that this was a major project for Denbigh and Denbighshire County. The site contained a listed building of national importance, and this building was proposed to be restored and converted as part of the proposal. The Project involved enabling developments which involves building houses within the grounds in order to support the restoration and conversion of the main listed building. A significant amount of Public Sector funding was needed to be generated in order to make the project viable and funding had been one of the main reasons for the delays since September 2021. There were many legislative controls which needed to be taken into consideration which involved conversations with National Resources Wales (NRW), County Ecologist and the Highways Team in order to ensure that the project could be delivered taking into account timings and the impacts on Denbigh and the surrounding areas.

Finally with any planning legal agreement there needed to be agreement between the developer and the authority and officers felt that this level of agreement had been reached and were confident with the level of detail they have regarding timings and delivery made the scheme viable.

General debate –

Local member Councillor Delyth Jones thanked officers for their work on this application on the Section 106 agreement. Referring to the item being deferred from the Planning Committees May 2024 meeting, clarity was sought on whether the Legal Department were content with the conditions now included within the application. Reference was made to the Biodiversity and Conservation elements of the application, and it was highlighted that they were crucial to the success of this project being delivered.  Clarity on the Aled Ward building being kept during the construction phase was requested. Questions were raised regarding who would have responsibility for the site and concerns regarding funding being available were also raised and clarity on transport and Active Travel routes to the site were asked for.

The Development Manager explained how Ecological and Biodiversity would be managed on the site and how it was one of the biggest issues facing the project. Close work was continuing with NRW regarding the licensing process having regard to the proposed tranches of mitigation set out in the proposals.

The proposal from the developer currently was to demolish the Aled Ward however, due to this development taking 10 -15 years to complete the Aled Ward was included in the phasing of the project to allow for every opportunity for it to be retained.

NRW were keen for a responsible authority (DCC) to look after and manage the site and detailed discussions had taken place with Countryside Services in relation to how this could be implemented.

The Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager stated that Denbighshire had the funding to assist with some off-site highway alterations however, it needed to be spent by the end of December 2024. Relating to highway safety implications, a traffic assessment had been previously undertaken and it was felt that this was adequate to deal with the increases of traffic at junctions in the future. Bus routes/ stops were not linked well to the town of Denbigh currently however, the developer had suggested opportunities to provide a stop within the site in the future.

Members questioned the certainty of resources being available within the Council for the project under the current economic climate. The Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services stated that this project was seen as a high priority for the region and public funding had been earmarked for the scheme. The ongoing ecological management of the site would be a priority for the Council’s Countryside Services and a Liaison Committee was in the process of being created which would be very beneficial.

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis highlighted discrepancies between the recommendation in the report and the recommendation in the late representation sheets. The Development Manager clarified that the recommendation stated within the late representation sheets was the recommendation that members would be voting on.

Proposal – Councillor Gareth Sandilands proposed that the application be granted in accordance with officer recommendation, SECONDED by Councillor Cheryl Williams.

Vote –

For – 16

Against – 0

Abstain – 0

RESOLVED: that the application be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendation.

Meeting concluded: 11.50am