THE LONG wait for a decision on whether 21 new homes can be built on land in the Penyffordd area of Holywell could soon be over.
Flintshire Council’s planning committee reconvenes next week after the summer recess, and on the agenda is the proposal for development at Rhewl Fawr Road.
It was originally set to go in front of the committee in November last year but was deferred to clear up confusion about community council responses to the application, consider drainage implications and to allow for a site visit.
Planning permission was originally granted several years ago for the development of 23 homes on the same land but this expired in 2021.
The revised application is for 16 three-bedroom dwellings and five two-bedroom detached dwellings. Two and three car parking spaces will be provided for each of the properties.
According to a planning officer’s report to be read by councillors, the adoption of Flintshire’s Local Development Plan earlier this year has also changed the landscape – and now only fully affordable housing can be built in the village. This is something the applicants have since agreed to.
The report says: “During determination of this application the Flintshire Local Development Plan has been adopted and the policy context for this site has now altered. The application site is located within a Tier 4 Defined Village.
“Accordingly, and in order to comply with policy, the application has been amended and the scheme now proposes the dwellings will be 100 per cent affordable. The principle of development is considered acceptable.”
A response from the community council has been included in the report and summarises the concerns of residents, particularly about increased risk of flooding and traffic “unless adequate drainage facilities are installed”.
It adds: “The town council recognises that the new application will now be subject to providing a SUDS (drainage) Report, which they do not believe was required when the original application was submitted.
“In addition, the note that the proposal for the 21 dwellings provides parking facilities for three vehicles per property. This effectively allows 63 vehicles access to the site via an extremely narrow lane, which they consider will cause problems for both vehicles and pedestrians.”
But the development has been recommended for approval by the council’s chief planning officer Andrew Farrow.
In his report to councillors, Mr Farrow writes: “The principle of development complies with policy and will help contribute towards providing the affordable housing target as set out in the plan.
“Matters including highway safety, drainage, ecological implications and public open space contributions have been assessed and are considered acceptable.
“Concerns raised by residents in relation to residential amenity have been considered but the proposal complies with both local planning guidance and supplementary planning guidance.”
The planning committee will have the ultimate say on the plans when it meets on Wednesday (August 30).
