Councillors have ignored the advice of planning officers and voted to grant planning permission for a new home for Colwyn Bay’s snow leopards.

The Welsh Mountain Zoo applied for permission to knock down the existing snow leopard enclosure and build a new shelter in another part of the zoo.

This new enclosure will be on a green wedge of land in the north west of the zoo but planning officers objected to this location and recommended that it be turned down for planning permission.

The plans will see the erection of a snow leopard enclosure and housing facility.

The ground floor of the enclosure would include the housing facility as well as three sleeping dens, a breeding den, viewing den, holding cage and staff areas.

There would be a raised viewing platform and walkway at first floor.

The applicant, Nick Jackson, warned councillors that refusal would jeopardise a lot of the work that the zoo does.

Mr Jackson, who is chief executive of the National Zoological Society of Wales and who has worked at the zoo for 49 years, said: “This is a sensitively designed scheme which fits neatly into its landscape. This development is driven by the need to replace old-fashioned accommodation to enable the zoo to meet modern expectations.

“Failure to carry out this development will jeopardise our involvement with the international breeding programme for the snow leopard. It will threaten inward investment with major funding already raised including significant public support.

"This is a £500,000 development and is part of our £1million China themes Silk Road development. As members will appreciate the zoo is a major contributor to the economy of Colwyn Bay.

"Failure to approve will threaten the strong cultural links that we are building with China.”

“We’ve looked carefully at alternative sites in the zoo, this is the only viable option.”

Marl county councillor, Mike Priestly, said: “If I’m going to a zoo I want to look at animals in the best environment that they can be in. I travel on the A55 quite often and I do look up and you really do have to look hard to see any evidence of the zoo there.”

“We can agree to approve this application. It’s not as if we’re putting a house up there that’s going to be up there for ever and a day so I think we can approve this subject to as little more screening.

"And just to put a positive message out to the zoo, we do appreciate what you do and we support you.”

Uwchaled county councillor, Peter Lewis, also supported the plans.

He added: “I think if we look at the visual impact it would be of minimal intrusion. I think it improves the welfare standards of the snow leopard and it’s the replacement of an existing facility.

But Cllr Chris Cater argued that a revised plan with a less obtrusive building should be submitted to planners.

Councillors voted to approve planning permission for the proposal.