Works to obtain the former North Wales Hospital site and begin development are edging closer.

Denbighshire County Council (DCC) are hoping to have complete the compulsory purchase procedure (CPO) and obtain the property by the end of the summer.

Last month, DCC confirmed that Jones Bros, in association with the North Wales Building Preservation Trust (NWBPT), had been selected to take responsibility for the site, once the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is concluded.

The latest development however came last Wednesday, as the county council' planning committee agreed to authorise the serving of a general vested declaration (GVD), which is the next step in the CPO.

Leader of DCC, councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “Again this is a significant development in the efforts to conclude the Compulsory Purchase process and today we are another step closer to that becoming real.

“We have made a firm commitment from day one to protect this historic Grade 2* listed building and that commitment has not changed.

“The Council has spent a significant amount of time, effort and money over the years, to protect the site from further dereliction, such is the importance of the site.

“We fully recognise the importance of the site to local people and we want to ensure that the future development of the site hopefully led by Jones Bros in association with the North Wales Building Preservation Trust provides the most important listed buildings with a sustainable future whilst benefitting both the economy and local community in terms of jobs and housing."

“We are committed to completing the CPO process and look forward to working with Jones Bros and the Building Preservation Trust in ensuring physical works can start on site in the near future."

Jones Bros , who are based in Ruthin, are proposing a predominantly housing led redevelopment on the site, which will need to be subject to formal public consultation and full assessment via the statutory planning process.

A spokesman for Jones Bros, following being awarded the development contract last month, said: “Our first step will be to conduct site investigations to improve our understanding of the site and perform initial steps to make the site more secure.”

“The findings will help the partnership to finalise a development plan and planning application for the site."

The redevelopment is expected to several years.