RESIDENTS have raised concerns over traffic, flooding, wildlife, and pressures on doctors and dentists following plans being submitted to Denbighshire County Council for a new affordable housing estate in Meliden.
Developer Castle Green Homes submitted a pre-application consultation report to the council ahead of submitting a full planning application for 146 homes at Mindale Farm, Ffordd Hendre, near Prestatyn.
The plans for the 11.54-acre site include one, two, three, and four-bedroom homes and follow unsuccessful planning applications submitted in 2017 and 2022 by another developer.
As part of the latest consultation process, residents have raised several concerns around the plans.
These include existing congestion, parking, and “safety concerns” on Ffordd Pennant – particularly near the school – being worsened.
Letters to the St Asaph-based developer also said increased traffic on Ffordd Talargoch “would worsen existing pedestrian crossing difficulties at peak times”, necessitating “an additional crossing near Ffordd Ty Newydd”.
Other concerns raised included pressures to services, as it was already “impossible to get an appointment at GP and dental practices now, without more homes being built”.
Neighbours of the site also had drainage concerns, claiming the “undeveloped land currently provides natural flood protection”.
But as part of the consultation report, the developer assured residents the proposal would result in “minimal changes” from additional traffic.
The report predicted “154 two-way person trips during the AM peak hour” and “126 two-way trips in the PM peak”.
In regard to GP and dentist pressures, the report states: “The Local Planning Authority will consult with statutory consultees to determine the impact of the development on existing services, the company being obliged to provide financial contributions to mitigate any impact arising from the development.”
Addressing flooding concerns, the report said: “All surface water run-off from highways, roof, and private drives will be collected into gravity piped networks and discharged.”
Residents also raised the issue of the fields being “home to badger setts, wild birds, lizards, tadpoles, and toads” in an “established wildlife habitat which should not be built on”, but the developer said an independent assessment had concluded the site is of “low ecological interest”.
The plans will likely be discussed at a future Denbighshire County Council planning committee meeting at the authority’s Ruthin County Hall HQ.
