PLANS to introduce a brewery to a Flintshire village - which was initially built without planning permission - have now received approval.

The property is located on a former lead works site just off the the A548 Coast Road opposite the Dee Bank Industrial Estate.

It was erected by the owners of the Treboom Brewery, which was previously based just outside York.

The craft beer company was taken over in October 2022, leading to plans for it to be relocated to a site in Bagillt.

An investigation by enforcement officers from Flintshire Council later found a building was constructed to house the business on land at Top Works without formal planning consent.

A retrospective application by John Dale to gain retrospective approval was considered by Flintshire Council's planning committee on Wednesday (April 10).

The proposals had been recommended to go ahead by a senior council official ahead of the meeting, despite objections from some members of Bagillt Community Council.

Community councillors had voiced concerns over the development taking place without approval, as well as raising issues with land contamination.

During the planning committee meeting this week,  Christopher Owens, raised further concerns over the potential for 'flooding' at the site.

Mr Owens said: "In the application is states that a soakaway will be used for rainwater disposal. This is already causing issues on the cycle and footpath adjacent to the A548 below the site, where considerable amounts of mud and flooding are now deposited as run-off on a regular basis since this development commenced."

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Councillor Kevin Rush, who represents the Bagillt ward, raised residents concerns over the impact of the development on the the area's wildlife like bats and newts, as well as nearby footpaths and the potential increase in traffic.

A statement read out on behalf of the applicant John Dale said that Treboom Brewery that an investment of more than £1m made 'demonstrates our commitment to the region'.

Mr Dale added that he wanted to create a 'business for Bagillt to be proud of', adding that it would create around 16 jobs for local people.

The plans were unanimously backed by members of the planning committee, with all in attendance in favour.

That was alongside a recommendation for an engineering report to be carried out on the condition and stability of the bank on which the structure sits.