Aerospace firm expansion plans backed by planning committee in “boost to the economy of Wrexham”

Expansion plans at an aerospace company in Wrexham have been given the go ahead, with councillors describing it as a “boost” to the local economy.

Magellan Aerospace, on Llay Industrial Estate, had put forward proposals to create an 8,000 square metre building adjacent to the existing factory to assemble, store and distribute aircraft parts.

The development will also provide offices and welfare facilities for staff, along with on site car parking and a new access point off Miners Road.

The Canadian firm said the proposals would provide new job opportunities in the area.

It comes after it was announced last summer that up to 240 jobs could be lost at the factory due to a reduction in orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at a virtual meeting on Monday evening, planning officer David Williams said application contains “significant economic benefits” and would create 120 new jobs.

He continued: “It’s an industry that we want to see supported, with highly skilled jobs involved.

“It’s in accordance with policy, the vast majority of the site is within the land allocated for employment, all of the site is within the settlement limit.

“There are no objections raised by highways, as you can see from the report they have looked at the capacity of the junctions which be which have used the transport assessments provided by Aldi as being the most appropriate because of the issues of COVID.

“There is sufficient capacity to allow for any increase in traffic on the back of this developments.

“As you can see, a large proportion of additional staff will be outside peak hours, they will shift the shift patterns So, a large proportion of additional staff church will occur outside the network peak, which will help alleviate the situation and they will introduce car sharing etc to reduce the impact again on on parking requirements at the site.

Llay councillor Bryan Apsley said the development would be a “major increase in employment and a boost to the economy of Wrexham.”

These comments were echoed by Hermitage councillor, Graham Rogers, who added: “We’d be silly to refuse this application, especially when it’s going to encompass an additional 120 jobs, which as already stated, which will be a boost to Llay and the surrounding areas and also Wrexham, as far as the economy is concerned.

“I’ve got concerns in relation to the construction phase as regards to parking. There are a number of units around that particular site, where the sites are derelict. Is it possible that the applicant could make inquiries to see whether or not during the construction phase that one of these derelict sites could become available for parking for the construction worker?”

Mr Williams noted that it would be possible to “condition a management plan for parking due to the construction period.”

The plans for the expansion were backed unanimously by committee members.