Plans to demolish Hawarden monastery to make way for 15 houses receive go ahead on appeal

Plans to demolish a monastery in Hawarden to make way for houses have been given the go ahead on appeal. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It comes despite the proposals by Eccleston Homes to knock down the Poor Clare Colettine Monastery being rejected by councillors at the end of last year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The application was originally submitted after a community of nuns based in the village for more than 90 years decided to relocate to Nottingham because of mounting maintenance costs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The developer’s proposals to create 15 detached houses at the green barrier site on Upper Aston Hall Lane were recommended for approval by Flintshire Council officers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

But planning committee members sided with the local community, who opposed the scheme amid concerns it would harm birds and other wildlife. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Their decision to refuse the application has now been overturned after an appeal was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Inspector Anthony Thickett acknowledged it would normally be seen as an inappropriate development due to the location, but said it was unlikely the buildings could be put to another use. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a report, he said: “The appeal site lies outside a settlement boundary and within a green barrier. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The proposed development constitutes inappropriate development in a green barrier which is, by definition, harmful. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Nevertheless, the reduction in built form will improve openness and the development would not conflict with a purpose of the green barrier which is to prevent the coalescence of settlements. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The site is brownfield and it is in a sustainable location. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“For the reasons given above and having regard to all matters raised, I consider that these considerations combine to constitute very exceptional circumstances and justify allowing this appeal and granting planning permission.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Agents acting on behalf of the housing company previously said the money raised by the plans would help the nuns to redevelop their new base in the Midlands. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They added it had become difficult for the community of sisters to maintain the large monastery building and its grounds. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Thickett concluded the appeal should be allowed as he felt the development was necessary to ensure the site was not left unused. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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