Concerns over plans for 600 houses by Holt Road – ‘equivalent of building an entire village’

Plans to build 600 new homes in Wrexham could place a big strain on local services, it has been claimed.

A consultation has been launched over proposals for a major housing development on land off Holt Road, running between Wrexham Rugby Club and the roundabout by Wrexham Golf Club.

Barratt Homes and Bloor Homes have created draft plans as part of a wider area, which has been identified by Wrexham Council as suitable for up to 1,680 new houses in its draft Local Development Plan.

However, Rhosnesni councillor Mike Davies said it would be the equivalent of building an entire village next to his ward and has called for clarity on how schools and health services will be able to cope.

Cllr Davies said: “We keep hearing about the need for extra houses in Wrexham, but we’re not really sure where and who came up with these figures.

“Any development really needs to have consideration for local people and it needs to be well designed.

“We need more facilities because if you put an extra 600 houses there, the nearest school at Borras Park is already overloaded.

“There’s a lot of villages round here which don’t have 600 houses in them.”

The developers said the proposed new homes will deliver a ‘significant’ economic boost through additional household expenditure of £10 million each year by new residents.

They added that 173 direct and 154 indirect jobs would be created by the plans. A quarter of the properties will be affordable homes suitable for first time buyers.

Simon Artiss, planning manager at Barratt Homes, said: “We are really excited to be bringing forward these plans at a site which has been identified in the council’s emerging Local Development Plan as suitable to deliver the new homes the borough needs.

“We are committed to engaging with the community about our draft plans and hope local people will take the opportunity to find out more by visiting our project website.

“Now is the time for local residents to tell us what they think and we look forward to hearing the views of the community on our draft plans.”

The developers said they had delivered newsletters to more than 1,000 homes and businesses in the area.

Those interested in the proposals can find out more about the scheme by visiting the dedicated project website at www.newhomesforwrexham.co.uk

Feedback is also invited via a Community Information Line on 0844 556 3002 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm) where residents can speak with members of the development team regarding the plans. The consultation has now started and will run until Friday,  October 5.

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