Old Colwyn East Residents’ Association
A minute of a talk on 9th February 2006 by Mr Andrew Salisbury
regarding his proposed building development at the junction of
Iola Drive and Queens Road, Old Colwyn
Mr Salisbury started his presentation by outlining where the site was and saying that it had fallen into disrepair and been vandalised recently. It had previously been converted into two flats and the internal state was not good.
He stated that his initiative was to support the first time buyer market as there are plenty of large properties for sale. His initial approach was to initiate consultation but he was unable to attend last month. He has since consulted neighbours in the vicinity of the property.
Mr Salisbury said that he had done a street survey and in talking to people had found that passing vehicles travel at some speed on occasion and that he would support any application for speed ramps in the vicinity.
The secretary said that the association had debated speed ramps in other locations and did not support them in principle because it just tended to move the problem elsewhere.
Mr Salisbury then outlined that there were six terraced properties in the development. The development was designed to fit in with the various types of properties in the area, particularly Heenan Road. Certain features of other properties are replicated.
Planners had understood the need to maximise the development for the proposed market, density-wise. The property will look like three big houses but is composed of six small properties cleverly worked in with roof line detail. They each have their own entrance.
The pricing has not been worked out finally but he is working with John Harvey of Harvey Homes of Distinction. He normally builds bespoke properties. His attention to detail is good and Mr Salisbury wanted the houses to be of a good standard.
The existing house benefits from dense shrubbery. The maturity of the setting will be maintained as much as possible; there will be some new planting.
Pricing will probably be in the region £130,000 to £150,000. He outlined that he had put forward for assisted purchase. This is a government initiative where the person has to provide 70% of the purchase price and the Government buys the other 30% and will always own it. If the purchaser comes to sell it, the government will own 30% and so any new purchaser will have to find 70% of the market cost. It is designed to attract people in a working environment who can afford a £100, 000 mortgage.
In reply to a question about whether they may be sold to a housing association, Mr Salisbury replied that Planning Permission had been granted earlier in the day. He had hoped that the planners would not insist on compulsory purchase for a housing association. The condition that had been placed on the scheme by the planners was that two of the six properties had to be covered by a 70-30 split scheme. They will all be privately sold.
A question was tabled as to whether the assisted scheme would put persons off buying a property at full price. Mr Salisbury said he hoped not, his hands were tied and he had to agree to that was a condition of planning permission.
The secretary stated that presumably as there was a 70-30 split, the buyer could not acquire more than 70% of the property; there is no reduction in price as such and no detriment to the 100% buyer.
He said that it is a very attractive idea that possibly young people in the area may be able to afford their own house and it certainly sounds like a good development.
Mr Salisbury said that he had found that his approach of visiting people with his plans and communicating his ideas had met with approval from the residents in the locality.
The secretary said that other developers had visited to outline their intentions and that had been well received as a course of action, there were also developers who had not approached the association leading to a lack of understanding and sometimes difficulties.
Mr Salisbury then showed the meeting the plans of the development and was thanked by the Chair for attending and giving the presentation.