| Despite advice against the development
by their own planning officers, Gwynedd councillors have agreed to
the development of the old Wardle Storey car parts factory on the
Llandegai Industrial Estate. The development will mean the construction
of a 6 screen Multiplex Cinema, Bowling Alley and Bingo Hall with
associated restaurants, a hotel and parking for over 450 cars. The
development of such facilities in Bangor has been broadly welcomed
although strong concerns have been raised that the site is both unsuitable,
and will provide less secondary benefits to the City than an alternative
central site. The developers Aurora positioned the plan as preferential
by being on a brown field industrial site between the A55 and Bangor,
and therefore minimising the traffic impact of the development on
Deiniol and Farrar roads and providing ease of access for those not
entering the city for any other reason.
An alternative plan submitted by Morbaine for the Farrar Road site,
which has the backing of the Traders Association, the Mayor and
others, and would see the facilities located on the Bangor City
site close to the railway station and in an area where small to
medium businesses could benefit from its draw of customers. Morbaines
plans have however come after several retail plans for the site
which have failed and therefore allowed time for alternative bids
to be put forward.
Questions have been raised as to the suitability of the Llandegai
site, designated as light industry in the Unitary Development Plan
and therefore sharing facilities and road access with businesses
using large commercial vehicles. The value of hosting a site next
to a railway station can clearly be seen at Llandududo, hence questions
have been raised as to the willingness of public transport users
to use both train and bus facilities to reach the site.
Related Links
Property Developers: Aurora Property Co Ltd
Property Consultants/Agent: Cliff
Walsingham & Company
Planning Application & Plans: Auroras
Plan (Llandegai) | Morbaines
Plan (Bangor City FC Site)
Afron Area Planning Committee: Minutes
Potential Operators quoted in Application as showing interest: Cineworld
(6 Screen Site), Hollywood
Bowl, Ten Pin, Mecca,
Gala Bingo,
Buckingham
BBC News Report: Closure of the factory
Ref: C06A/0648/16/AM
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