A former hotel in Penmaenmawr is set to make way for 14 new flats.

North Wales' largest housing association, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd, has been awarded a Welsh Government grant to build flats at Pennant Hall on Beach Road, Penmawnmawr. 

The site, which used to be the site for Jack's Hydro, was purchased by the housing association last year. 

Under the proposed plans it will be transformed to 14 flats which will be a mixture of one and two-bedroom properties.

The £400,000 grant was awarded because of the innovative nature of the manufacturing and use of massive timber elements from local timber using a system known as massive laminated timber (MLT).

This technique was pioneered in the UK by Williams Homes of Y Bala, to construct the Coed-y-Brenin visitor Centre near Dolgellau.

Williams Homes has been appointed to build this project.

Pennant Hall will become the first residential project in Wales to deploy MLT techniques and the first such, multi-story project in Wales using local timber.

Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd Chief Executive Ffrancon Williams said: “We are delighted to be awarded a grant for this ambitious building.

"It has been a challenging process and our application comes out of 50 others."

This scheme aims to prove the benefits of MLT as a cost effective solution for medium rise residential buildings so it can be used on many future developments across the UK.

It is anticipated work will start on site in February and will be complete by February 2020.

Williams Homes' Managing Director Owain Williams added: "We are proud to be part of this innovative project utilising Welsh timber, local labour and ground-breaking techniques in providing high quality affordable homes for North Wales."

Pennant Hall, an Edwardian villa, was previously known as Jack’s Hydro, which had a reputation for being a sauna club for gay men.