A PLAN to develop 60 homes on the outskirts of Denbigh has raised fears that the town is at risk of becoming overpopulated, while failing to meet a need for affordable housing.

Macbryde Homes lodged a proposal for the five-acre estate off the A525, neighbouring the Brookhouse Mill, which would include two, three and four-bedroom homes.

The St Asaph developer expects “extremely strong” interest in the properties, priced from £149,995, which it said would offer first-time buyers, growing families and young professionals the chance to get on the housing ladder.

Councillors and residents voiced concerns that the plan would lead to oversubscribed services at a time when other housing developments are expected to go ahead, including the long-awaited proposal for 300 homes at the former North Wales Hospital.

Rhys Thomas, county councillor for Lower Denbigh, said the plan will cause a lot more pressure on roads, local schools and doctors’ surgeries.

“You can’t keep building houses and expect everything to be OK,” he said.

Cllr Thomas’s worries were compounded by the requirement that just 10 per cent of the Brookhouse homes, or six properties, have to be affordable according to Denbighshire County Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).

As the site is already marked for development under the LDP, he believes it is likely the proposal will be accepted.

“The answer is to get what Denbigh needs,” Cllr Thomas said. “There are a lot of people who can’t get on the housing register – are these homes going to be available for them?

“The council has the data to know what type of housing we need so there has to be a different model to these decisions being made by developers.”

Mark Young, county councillor for Lower Denbigh and member of the planning committee that will oversee the Brookhouse proposal, said he remained at odds with the Welsh Government’s decision to force the plot into Denbighshire’s Local Development Plan.

“Our aim should now be to ensure the developer fulfils any required financial contributions in regard to education and infrastructure which will help lessen the blow for the community,” he said.

Denbigh residents took to the Free Press Facebook page to express their concern over the fresh housing proposal.

Ann Leah Wallace said she has a “huge fear” the town will “grow and grow with lots of new developments that young people and locals can’t afford”.

“One of the reasons we moved here was because the town we grew up in had new houses squashed on to it, bringing a gridlocked town with overflowing schools and long delays to see doctors and dentists.”

Resident Pete Cosgrove commented there is a "shortage of houses" with new families, young people and single people in need of homes.

Vicki Riley added: “I’m not opposed to new housing but I do have concerns about jobs, doctors, dentists and schools for all these new people bearing in mind there are already two new developments.

“We need more housing with the growing population but we don’t have the services to cope.”

Gwyn Jones, managing director of Macbryde Homes, said: “The site that we have acquired in Denbigh is in an excellent location and has many positive factors in its favour. It boasts strong transport links, and Denbigh itself has a wealth of vital amenities including doctors, dentists, shops and several primary and secondary schools.

“These are all well placed to support both the existing and future local population.

“As a North Wales-based housebuilder, we are aware of the housing need across the region and have a strong track-record of delivering quality developments that meet that local need.”