A planning committee has backed plans for fourteen new homes in a Denbighshire village, sparking hopes pupil numbers could be boosted at a rural primary school. Ian Roberts, of Roberts Homes, applied to Denbighshire County Council’s planning department, seeking permission for the development.
A planning committee this week at Ruthin ’s County Hall HQ heard how the development included four two-bedroom homes, four three-bedroom homes, and five four-bedroom homes. As part of the plans, the development includes the formation of vehicular accesses and parking, a visitor car park, and landscaping at land adjacent to Peniarth, Gellifor, near Ruthin.
Local councillor Huw Williams proposed the committee backed the plans and pleaded with councillors to get behind the application to help protect the future of Ysgol Gellifor and its numbers. “This (land) has been in the LDP (local development plan) for a long time,” he said. “We forget there is a school there. When I became a councillor, there were 100 children there. I’m not sure of the figures now, but they are very low. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox.
“This is a great opportunity to get families into the community and get them into that school. Keep it going.” He added: “We’ve just had a community shop open in Llandyrnog, which is a good commute from Gellifo. We know the roads are narrow in the area, but please support this application.”
Cllr Chris Evans also said the planning committee had a duty to protect the identity and character of rural areas. “Our rural areas are losing their identity, and I think that’s what we need to bear in mind sometimes when we are in these planning meetings,” he said. “We only have to drive to Ruthin County Hall and see how many houses are being expanded into small villages. I would just like the committee to take that on board.” Cllr Evans also had concerns about the narrow roads and said the homes should be affordable.
An artist’s impression of one of the homes proposed
Planning officer Paul Griffin said the council’s policy was to ask for 10% affordable homes. Mr Griffin admitted the homes might be expensive but added that the developer had offered ‘a three-bedroom house’ as part of the deal, which would be managed by a social landlord. Councillors unanimously backed the development with a vote of 18-0 in favour of the application.
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