Doubt over seafront regeneration

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A planned £85m development of Rhyl seafront could be in doubt after it emerged no buyer has been found for the site.

The land - once home to Rhyl's famous funfair - is owned by developers Modus, which is in administration.

Administrators Ernst and Young, said no buyer had been found, but there were interested parties.

Denbighshire Council said it in discussion with the administrators "to secure progress" on the development.

Plans submitted by Manchester-based Modus in 2006 included an apartment complex, a supermarket and a hotel.

The plan also included shops, offices, cafes, restaurants and 10 wind turbines.

The town's funfair, which dated back to the 1890s, closed its doors for the last time in September 2007, to make way for the development.

We cannot stand still on this - we're going to have to find some way of continuing the redevelopment of Rhyl Cllr Glyn Pickering, mayor of Rhyl,

However, Ernst and Young confirmed that no buyer has come forward to purchase the land from Modus - which went into administration in June - raising questions over the future of the site.

Denbighshire Council said it was in close contact with the administrators and "we have continued to place pressure on them to demolish the vacant and derelict buildings on the site, and have taken enforcement action both to secure the properties against illegal access and to get them demolished.

"We have received their assurances that the buildings are to be demolished in the near future and we will continue to press them on this.

"The council and Welsh Assembly Government remain in discussion with administrators to secure progress with the Ocean Plaza development."

Councillor Glyn Pickering, mayor of Rhyl, said the development was "an integral part of the future for Rhyl".

He added: "We were informed that the redevelopment would be starting in November 2009.

"We cannot stand still on this - we're going to have to find some way of continuing the redevelopment of Rhyl."