New housing plan on ‘bomb site’ plot by Llandudno’s rail station

New affordable housing plans have been submitted for land next to Llandudno’s rail station which one councillor dubbed a “bomb site”.

The revised plan comes after Lane End Developments withdrew its last housing development on land off Builder Street in the town after Conwy county councillors deferred the idea last December.

Last week it was reported the company had put in plans for five business units on the former railways sidings next to the station.

Now, working with social landlord Clwyd Alyn, it’s submitted new plans for cycle-friendly housing on the site and reduced the number of affordable dwellings from 89 to 77.

There will be 21 affordable two, three and four-bed homes for rent and 56 one and two-bed apartments split between general needs and housing for the over-55s.

The applicant says there will be car parking spaces for all houses but for apartment holders it says “car parking and other associated facilities” will be “on the area of the development site fronting Oxford Road and along Builder Street”.

However the development will be promoting cycling, with on-site bike storage, and green travel by installing electric vehicle charging points.

The total area of the site, including the previous submitted plans for the industrial units, is 1.33 hectares.

Planning officers objected to the original residential scheme of 56 apartments and 33 houses because it partly sits in a conservation area and is an LDP allocated employment site for B1 (Business) use.

It sits within a C1 flood zone and officers noted “potential land contamination” on the site, which has lain largely unused for a considerable time.

A spokeswoman for Clwyd Alyn said: “Lane End will market the commercial element of the site for 12 months and if there is no interest it will hopefully revert to 10 housing units which would form a second phase to the development.

“The site viability report confirmed the site was not viable for commercial use and the need was for larger commercial units nearer to the A55 corridor, which is why it wasn’t included initially.

“The units have been reduced by two to include further open space in line with planning consultation.
“We will plant new trees throughout the site to compensate for any that are lost and create habitats for bats and birds.”

In addition the company says the plans will include a 15m boundary to the railway line to mitigate up to a 1 in 100 year flood event and allow for play areas.

The proposal also includes provision to widen adjacent footpaths on Builder street, while retaining “existing on road parking where possible”.

The plans will be discussed at a future planning committee meeting.

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter