Following extensive discussions between Denbighshire County Council and Ambition North Wales, the decision has been made to withdraw the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic Site project from the North Wales Growth Deal.
This decision comes from the Denbighshire County Council’s review of the Local Development Plan, with the evidence confirming a decrease in the need for new houses in Denbighshire, resulting in much smaller project. In addition to the number of homes being much lower, a significant amount of funding would be needed for infrastructure purposes (regardless of the number of homes).
All Growth Deal projects are required to deliver an agreed set of benefits to the region by 2036. As a result of the changes to the project, the benefits would be substantially smaller than originally set out and would not be realised within the timeframe of the deal.
Both Denbighshire County Council and Ambition North Wales, agrees this is the right decision as any development would need to secure value for money (and using public funds). We agree there is no justification in progressing with the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic site.
The funding provisionally allocated to this project will be retained within the Growth Deal and Ambition North Wales will now consider how best to use this funding to deliver maximum benefits for the region.
* a framework that sets out where new developments will take place within a local authority based on evidence of need