PLANS to demolish a Rhyl property’s two-storey extension and built two flats have been approved.

The proposals were submitted by Denbighshire County Council to the local authority’s own planning committee, and concern 26 Wellington Road.

Situated next door to Les & Rita’s Fish Bar, it is a three-storey property which has been vacant for about eight years.

Today (November 5), the proposals were granted planning permission.

They were submitted by Mark Dixon and architectural technician Mike Colborne, both of Denbighshire County Council.

Extracts from a supporting statement compiled by Mr Colborne read: “The demolition of the adjoining Post Office building has led to 26 Wellington Road being in a prominent location. 

“The application site has recently been used for a variety of means, including the latest use of the building, which had been for two retail units to the ground floor, and office accommodation to the remainder.

“It is proposed to re-model the front elevation with aluminium shop front windows and doors, fitted with double-glazed toughened glass to remove the need for the roller shutters and improve the overall appearance of the property.

“Existing windows to the first and second floors are to be repaired, with new secondary glazing provided internally or to be replaced with new double glazed windows to match existing design.”

Mr Colborne said the plans will have no impact on highways following completion of the construction, though it is envisaged there will be a temporary closure of the adjoining pavement while works are undertaken to the front elevation.

He added that the development would not negatively impact on existing surface water, as no additional hard-standing areas will be created.

It is envisaged that, where possible and necessary, existing drainage systems will be upgraded.

Mr Colborne added: “The most recent local housing market assessment for Denbighshire concluded that 66 per cent of households in the Rhyl local housing market area were priced out of market housing.

“Of those, 24 per cent were in need of intermediate housing.

“Whilst there has been a well-documented weakening in demand in town centres generally in recent times due to a variety of factors, there is still a market for small, good quality, well located ground floor units in Rhyl town centre, as evidenced by unsolicited enquiries received for units in this property.

“There are no other suitable sites available for this development - this development will aid in bringing a disused building back into use, preventing further decay and deterioration.

“12 sites were allocated for residential development in the town. Of these, seven have either been completed or are currently under development, two have been retained in other uses, and one - the former Northgate School on Russell Road - remains undeveloped.”

Natural Resources Wales and Denbighshire County Council’s Highways department were among those to be consulted on the application; both made no objections.