Any development of over 10 houses now has to have a pre-planning consultation with the local community (in this case, the town council and affected adjacent landowners). Yesterday, notices appeared on the Walled City of Glasdir to this effect.
What's going on?
Taylor Wimpey actually wants to finish the current phase off. How so?
There are currently a number of almost-finished homes that are boarded up. These will be completed. As for the set of foundation slabs that have gotten no further than that, we are given to understand that Taylor Wimpey will smash these up (or, at least, most of them) and start again. Is this because the exposed concrete's now rotting? Or is it because the slab heights are too low?
Basically, the Chernobyl estate was abandoned in November 2012 after the flood. That was six years ago. It's been four years since the enhanced flood protection scheme and a year since the show homes were put on the market—and sold quickly.
That these show houses were for sale and that the developer is now finishing off the estate is only good news. Abandoned housing and scrubland does nothing for those who already live on Glasdir. Even though Taylor Wimpey cleared the site, the place still looks like an alien landscape, overgrown, uncared for, like an army training ground... or a battle zone.
And there's more news. The land swap which enabled the development of the two Glasdir schools could soon be available as phase 2 of the Glasdir development. It's widely held that Taylor Wimpey will bid for that land.
By way of a recap, here's a chronology of a failed development that could now be a successful one:
Taylor Wimpey actually wants to finish the current phase off. How so?
- There's buoyancy at the bread and butter end of the Rhuthun/Ruthin housing market, especially among first time buyers. There are currently incentives to buy brand new.
- All of Ruthin's three primaries are on or near Denbigh Road and Glasdir. This fact willnot be lost on Taylor Wimpey and this will make the marketing of new family homes on Glasdir that little bit easier
- The flood protection scheme is still in place. It's further understood that the developer has come to terms with Dŵr Cymru over the adoption of surface water systems and with the county council over the adoption of the road system through the estate (it's still not adopted, probably because it isn't actually finished). Both of these will help the developer immensely
- The housing insurance market is now satisfied that it can offer homeowners reasonably affordable insurance at market rates.
- Much of Taylor Wimpey's land banks elsewhere may now likely to be exhausted. This means the developer no longer has other, perhaps more important sites to develop and can now concentrate on Glasdir.
Basically, the Chernobyl estate was abandoned in November 2012 after the flood. That was six years ago. It's been four years since the enhanced flood protection scheme and a year since the show homes were put on the market—and sold quickly.
And there's more news. The land swap which enabled the development of the two Glasdir schools could soon be available as phase 2 of the Glasdir development. It's widely held that Taylor Wimpey will bid for that land.
By way of a recap, here's a chronology of a failed development that could now be a successful one:
- Planning permission was first sought in 2004 for up to 230 units on a 25 acre site. This included so-called "market dwellings" (i.e. for owner-occupiers) and both low-cost and affordable housing
- Outline permission was granted in September 2005, for the first phase of 178 units
- The first phase was split into three sections, A, B and C. Section A began in June 2006. It was a condition of the permission that low cost housing began first
- The development was initially constructed by Taylor Woodrow and Taylor Woodrow chose to market the site under its Bryant Homes subsidiary, owned by Taylor Woodrow since 2001. In 2007, Taylor Woodrow merged with George Wimpey, creating Taylor Wimpey
- The development was initially and awkwardly named as "Rhuthun Parc" but swiftly changed to "Parc Rhuthun" only. Then, in 2008, it changed again, to "Glasdir Vale" and once more and no less abruptly, to plain "Glasdir"
- Sales were initially slow. Taylor Wimpey held a public meeting in 2008 to try to assuage local fears about flooding on the flood plain
- Sections A and B were completed and in 2012 the developer Taylor Wimpey moved to Section C
- Disaster struck in November 2012 when the site and most of the existing homes were flooded out
- Taylor Wimpey immediately abandoned the site
- Four years ago, the county council strengthened the flood protection
- Two years ago, Taylor Wimpey tied up the site
- In June 2017, Taylor Wimpey put its three show homes on the market. The two smaller units sold very quickly and the third, a larger detached house, wasn't slow to shift, either.
Denbighshire officers from planning and highways visit Glasdir Section C