Housing developers who had plans to build 70 flats at Bangor's former Jewsons site rejected have now won an appeal against that decision.

The plot has been at the centre of controversy since 2011, when Llangefni-based Hughes Bros Ltd put in a bid to develop the site, which sits at the very lower end of the High Street near Penlon Gardens.

In January, Gwynedd council ’s planning committee turned down the detailed plans amid concerns over the scale of the development, although earlier outline proposals had been approved by councillors in March 2015, meaning that the principle of residential development on the site had already been established.

Hughes Bros Ltd lodged a formal appeal with the planning inspectorate against the refusal, which had been decided against the advice of Gwynedd council's professional officers.

As a result of the inspector overturning the authority's decision, Gwynedd council could now face having to pay significant costs.

As part of the amended plans, the number of living units had been slightly reduced from the original 77 to 70, across one two-storey building and three blocks of flats up to four storeys in height.

The application included 24 one-bedroom units and 46 two-bedroom units, with a total of 13 being designated as affordable units and 67 parking spaces being provided on-site.

The plans had been opposed by many locally, including an objection from Bangor City Council, who claimed the development did not enjoy the support of local residents and represented over development.

The former Jewson site in Bangor
The former Jewson site in Bangor

In his report, inspector Richard Duggan said: "I am satisfied, from the information provided and my own assessment from other parts of the surrounding area, that the scale and appearance of the proposed development would fit comfortably with that of the surrounding area when viewed in this longer-range context.

"In this respect, I do not consider that the scale of the accommodation blocks as proposed would appear as an excessive amount of development for the size of site concerned and the character of its surroundings."

Cllr Keith Jones also said during January's planning meeting that there were too many houses of multiple occupancy in the city, with parking already an issue in the area.

“The height of the buildings is too high for the surrounding area, and they will be overlooking all the existing houses,” added the member for Hirael, who also raised concern about an "over concentration" in the area.

But the report found that the proposed scale, external appearance and proposed landscaping of the development "would not cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area" and that "there is no right to the maintenance of a view".

Gwynedd Council declined to comment when approached.