Plans to build 38 flats on the site of Bangor City’s former social club have been unanimously approved by planners.

The Deiniol Road site, a stone’s throw away from the city’s former Farrar Road stadium, was shut 10 years ago and has remained vacant ever since.

Planning permission is already in place for 49 flats on the site but earlier this year,  housing group Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG) submitted amended plans.

These involve 23 two bedroom and 15 one bedroom apartments across four storeys, with a mix of nine social rented units, 17 intermediate rented units and 12 open market rental properties to replace the club that was demolished in 2013.

Gwynedd Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the plans, which also include a secure private car park.

Recommended for approval by officers, it was felt the scheme would deliver “a high quality affordable housing development that will not only help to meet affordable housing demand in the area but also support the local economy and services”.

Members were also told the amended plans represented an improvement on those initially approved upon appeal, with 11 fewer units and a “less domineering” design.

Local councillor, Mair Rowlands, told the meeting in Pwllheli: “I’m pleased to see the site developed, which is a strategically important one in Bangor and it’s a shame it’s been empty for so long.

“There is a need for a mixed development like this to meet local demand, especially two bedroom flats, but there are also local concerns that it does not fit in well to the area.

“There are concerns that it will contribute to existing parking issues and will have an adverse impact on road safety, where cars already have to merge into lanes.

“Although I’m quite supportive, I feel it’s important to raise these important concerns.”

Cllr Huw Wyn Jones added he would be supporting the amended plans as they represented an improvement on those already approved, but reiterated his concerns over the highways situation.”

Cllr Anne Lloyd Jones’ proposal to approve was unanimously passed.