Readers will be aware of the name Welsh Development Agency which was "disbanded" following a reorganisation by WAG and the organisation which emerged from the ashes is "Department of Enterprise Innovations and Networks" which looks pretty much the same as WDA but re branded.
DEIN and WDA before them secured conveniently located sites along the A55 Expressway and systematically obtained planning permission for various uses including B1 Office / B2 Industrial and B8 Distribution uses.
The function of WDA during the 1980's and 1990's was to facilitate "inward investment" by pump priming the Welsh economy, securing locations and occupiers that might bring quality jobs to Wales. The WDA had limited success and controversy was never far. Starter industrial units was a speciality and perhaps WDA should never have ventured further.
Turning to the bone of contention, we have several WDA / DEIN sites along the North Wales A55 Expressway listed below.
1. StAsaph
B1 Office park location
2. Glan Conwy (sold)
Industrial
3. Bryn Cegin, Bangor
Planning permission granted for B1 / B2 / B8 undeveloped but serviced at considerable public expense.
Now JV between DEIN and private developer.
DEIN just secure permissions that private developers cannot and then use private developers to put the development together.
4. Parc Menai (part)
B1 Office park location
5. Ty Mawr, Llanfairpwll
Cited twice as unsuitable by the Planning Inspectorate for B1 offices.
Planning permission granted for regional shopping centre but application withdrawn prior to public inquiry.
6. Ty Mawr, Holyhead.
Planning permission granted for B1 / B2 / B8 undeveloped but serviced at considerable public expense.
The foregoing schemes have all been publically funded and planning permission given by local authorities that are an extension of WAG itself. Local Authorities are hardly going to argue with WAG.
However applicants are treated differently, public bodies are invariably given preferential treatment whereas private applicants are given a tough time.
DEIN are:
a) Securing permissions on controversial sites that private developers could not.
b) Have substantial influence over Local Authorities
c) Publically funded
d) Unfairly competing with private developers
e) Winning permissions and excluding private developers.
f) allowing the State to monopolise the development sector.
Clearly the State is competing with private developers and there must be legislation to prevent further state interference with the property market.
How long does this farce need to continue before people realise that the state is running everything in Wales from 2 school meals a day plus feee toothbrushes to monopolising development land.
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