PLANS for 92 homes, a new roundabout and a play area on land close to Plas Acton Cemetery in Wrexham look set for approval.
The council’s planning committee will be asked to consider the potential development submitted by SG Estates for a site opposite St Peter’s Close, near Llay New Road in Rhosrobin, when it meets next week.
Of the proposed 92 homes, 23 would be classed as affordable.
When the plans were first submitted two years ago, fears were shared in the community about potential loss of open space.
Responding to the application, the community council has raised a raft of concerns including that the Gwersyllt area is becoming “a regular target for development” at a time when Wrexham does not have a Local Development Plan (LDP) in place.
It is also concerned that the site is ‘greenbelt’ land and that traffic in the area will increase.
A planning report to be read by councillors ahead of Monday’s meeting says that an online petition objecting to the proposed housing estate has reached almost 300 signatures. There have also been 51 objections submitted to the plans.
The report adds: “Signatures are from neighbouring properties as well as the wider communities of New Rhosrobin, Old Rhosrobin, Gwersyllt, Pandy, Bradley and Llay, as they are also acutely aware of the multifaceted negative impacts the proposed development would have on them.
“Local residents feel that this is a ‘step too far’, and additional houses are not needed in an area which has already seen planning permission granted for over 800 houses since 2019.”
Whilst no concerns have been raised by the highways authority, the council’s education department has requested funding towards projects at Ysgol Bryn Alyn due to “insufficient secondary school provision” in the area.
Although Wrexham does not have a LDP in place, it is considered that the draft plan deemed sound by Welsh Government inspectors earlier this year carries more weight than the authority’s dated Unitary Development Plan (UDP), adopted in 2005 and which expired in 2011.
Councillors are being advised to grant the application, with officers describing the proposals as an “appropriate form of development” which would be acceptable under the LDP if adopted.
Members are warned that refusal could see the council have to shell out for costs if the authority was to lose an appeal.
The planning officer report states: “The proposed development is a significant departure from UDP policies, being located outside of a defined settlement limit and within a Green Barrier.
“However the UDP is long time expired. The proposed housing development would take place within a draft LDP housing allocation.
“The LDP has been found sound by the LDP inspectors and is afforded very significant weight in consideration of the application.
“Indeed, members should be aware that to refuse on the grounds of conflict with UDP policies PS1 and EC1 would put the council at risk of the significant likelihood of an award of costs in any subsequent planning appeal.”
The report adds: “The plans ensure an appropriate form of development would be undertaken on the site in terms of layout, form, open space provision, ecological enhancement, trees, landscaping and parking.
“The open space and landscaping would provide areas for informal recreation whilst also enhancing the biodiversity value of the site and providing areas for surface water drainage. The scheme therefore accords with relevant UDP and LDP policies in respect of detailed matters.”
Wrexham Council’s planning committee meets to discuss the application on Monday (November 6).
