Appeal launched over refusal of food outlet plans in Wrexham

An appeal has been launched after plans to turn a shop in Wrexham into a food and drink outlet were refused.

An application was submitted in July last year to change the use of the former Auto Parts store on Holyrood Crescent in Rhosddu.

However, it was rejected by Wrexham Council amid concerns it could cause issues with noise, odour and parking in the area.

An appeal has now been lodged by Birch Heath Development, which is behind the scheme, to have the decision overturned.

While many of the problems highlighted by the local authority were on the basis the property could be used as a takeaway, a town planner acting on the company’s behalf said it might also be used for other purposes such as a cafe or tea room.

In an appeal statement, Pete Lloyd said: “The evidence provided is the that the appeal premises is vacant unit in a small parade of shops serving a local community.

“It would offer a not insignificant amount of local employment opportunity in context.

“It is of a size and scale that would by virtue of its modest size limit amenity impacts and the appellant is willing to accept conditions which would mitigate impacts of cooking hot food, odour control, ventilation and noise as well as on the hours of opening.

“There is no evidence of excessive levels of anti-social behaviour in the locality and a cumulation of other A3 (food and drink) uses that might lead to unusual amounts of noise or late night activity would not occur.

“It is my evidence that the council could have granted planning permission subject to these conditions and that it has focussed, unreasonably, on guidance in a Hot Food Takeaway Local Planning Guidance Note rather than the actual impacts of a development mitigated by the suggested conditions.”

Mr Lloyd said the use of apps such as JustEat would mitigate any demand on parking if the building was used as a takeaway.

He added customers were likely to park on the service road off East Avenue if they did visit the premises.

The appeal will be decided by an inspector appointed by the Welsh Government at a later date.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)