Site Development Guidance Given Formal G-Ahead

Members of Denbighshire’s Planning Committee have formally approved planning guidance documents that will be used in considering planning proposals at three locations in the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following adoption of the Denbighshire Local Development Plan, documents called Site Development Briefs have been produced for a number of sites allocated for development in the Local Development Plan. These provide planning guidance for developers, officers and councillors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Briefs form part of a series of supplementary planning guidance and highlight matters that developers will need to address, including design guidance. They also outline infrastructure requirements that developers have to meet, to ensure the Council’s requirements for the site and surrounding area are achieved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Site Development Briefs were approved for: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Land adjoining former HM Stanley Hospital, St Asaph
• Brookhouse sites, Denbigh
• Residential development at Ffordd Hendre and Maes Meurig, Meliden

The Council conducted several consultation events on all three Site Development Briefs throughout Autumn 2015; four drop-in sessions in Denbigh and Meliden, and two drop-in session in St Asaph. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “There was a lengthy debate at the Planning Committee with input from a number of Members including the local Members representing two of the sites reflecting key issues and concerns that had been raised locally about the Development Briefs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All the feedback and concerns were considered at length, with the Planning Committee agreeing with the recommendation to approve the briefs. During the debate a number of Members also expressed their strong concerns about the original site allocation process, and the roll of Welsh Government which has “tied the hands” of Local Members thereby stifling local democracy. However it was generally agreed that it was extremely important to have robust development briefs in place to shape future planning considerations on these sites”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​