Holywell bungalow bites the dust to pave way for new apartments

A bungalow can be demolished to make way for a quartet of apartments in Holywell, councillors have determined.

An application seeking outline permission for the development earmarked for Halkyn Street in the town came before Flintshire Council’s planning committee this week.

Ahead of the meeting councillors had been to visit the site for which matters such as access, layout and scale have been reserved.

Planning officer Marc Harris outlined the proposals which had originally been for six apartments at the site, now reduced to four. One of the apartments has been designated as ‘affordable housing’.

The planning statement submitted with the outline proposals by the applicants says that the development would meet a shortage of available housing in the area.

Speaker on their behalf, planning agent Sioned Edwards said: “It must be stressed that the appearance and design of the building is not being considered as part of this outline application.”

But speaking on behalf of Holywell Town Council in objecting to the application, Holywell East Cllr Ian Hodge (Ind), told of issues experienced by Plas Yr Ywen care home residents trying to attend ‘Age and Dementia Friendly Holywell’ in the town.

“These issues have been raised even before this application was put forward and we feel it will only get worse if the application is approved”, he said.

He said the council must ensure the pavement from the assisted living accommodation is upgraded to support disabled transport such as wheelchairs and buggies.

Cllr Hodge added: “It is paramount we kept the pedestrian access safe at all times.”

With ward member Holywell Central Cllr Ted Palmer (Lab) having given his apologies, Holywell West Cllr Paul Johnson (Lab) read out a statement outlining his concerns on Cllr Palmer’s behalf.

Cllr Palmer said: “I do feel it is too large for the site and will have a detrimental impact to the surrounding location.

“There are four busy access points to other amenities close by which includes the pharmacy, the hospital, the old school building and Plas Yr Ywen.

“On that stretch of road there are ongoing issues with parking and blocking access to the extra care facility and very frequently there is a backlog of traffic at the lights between the hospital and the football ground.”

But Buckley Pentrobin Cllr Mike Peers (Ind), who had been on the site visit, said he felt the traffic issues “seemed completely unrelated” to the application. He suggested supporting the plans.

He was backed by Mold East Cllr Chris Bithell (Lab) said that the principle of the proposals fitted within planning policy, and that no objections had been flagged up by highways officers.

Argoed and New Brighton Cllr Hilary McGuill (Lib Dem) said she had raised the issue of mobility scooters and access into Holywell on the site visit.

She said she had been assured by a highways officer that the height of the entrance would be lowered so that people coming out would be able to see someone passing on a mobility scooter so it should become safer than it is currently.

When put to the vote, the committee followed the recommendations to grant the plans.

By Rory Sheehan – Local Democracy Reporter (more here).