"DON'T spoil Rhyl's regeneration" are the words of caution being put to developers planning to build apartments for residents aged 55-plus on the former site of Rhyl's Grange Hotel.

The proposals for 41 apartments on East Parade have been put forward by Wales & West Housing Association.

There will be 34 one-bed apartments and seven two-bed apartments.

Denbighshire County Council's planning committee will debate the plans next Wednesday (November 14) but concerns have been raised by residents through a consultation period.

One response compared the planned development to an MOD army barracks with "no character" whilst another called councillors to reject the plans terming it "more like a prison cell than apartments".

The comment lodged said: "Our promenade is looking good with all the improvements, don't spoil it, have some imagination please rethink this out.

"Hope our councillors will reject the building as we want improvements, not as I say a prison building, or is that what it really is going to be?"

It is recommended that councillors grant consent.

The site where The Grange used to stand is currently vacant and overgrown with vegetation. It has been vacant since demolition works in 2016.

There will be a parking area to the rear which will have 26 car parking spaces, including two for disabled person.

Ward councillor Barry Mellor, Rhyl East, said: "I have been to a meeting and I have seen the plans for the apartments - I don't see the problems with the appearance.

"There is nothing to save at the Grange site now. The front of the development is going to keep in with the appearance of the building, keeping in with the Travelodge and new Marston Pub across the road. It will certainly fit in with the regeneration. 

"It will be very similar to the build of apartments on the West End. To say that it won't fit in or that it will look like a prison, it is simply not the case.  

"People want it to be like... back to how the Grange was. But we won't get the stone work. Costs prohibit it."

Cllr Mellor added: "The positives here is the development is for people aged 55 plus. Denbighshire have 4,000 people on the waiting list. Housing is on the top of the list of the British Government, the Welsh agenda and our agenda. 

"In terms of parking, it is not that bad. Not everyone in the apartments is going to have a vehicle. 

"The people who live there, it is not going to be any more problematic. 

"We have to move forward. This is another part of the regeneration. We have started the journey and this is just another piece in the journey."

A report, to be presented to the committee, stated: "The principle of residential development is acceptable in this location, the proposed development will redevelop a prominent, derelict site within the development boundary for affordable housing to meet an identified need in Rhyl.

"It is not considered that there would be any adverse localised impacts in relation to visual or residential amenity and in highway and drainage terms the proposal is acceptable."