Consultation over plans for nearly 80 new homes in village on Wrexham / Chester border

A consultation has been launched over plans to build around 80 new homes in a village near the Wrexham-Chester border.

Galliers Homes Ltd is seeking views over proposals to create up to 77 houses on Chester Road in Lavister, near Rossett.

The site which it wants to develop is part of a former golf course and was not included in Wrexham’s Local Development Plan (LDP) because of concerns over flooding and the loss of agricultural land.

However, the Shrewsbury-based company said the scheme would deliver ‘high quality’ accommodation and claimed the issues could be mitigated.

In a planning statement, it said: “The proposal for the land off Chester Road is to create a new development of high quality family housing with an appropriate amount of affordable housing all of which will be in a desirable place to live.

“Lavister benefits from local services and public transport connections and is ideally placed to deliver future sustainable growth that is well planned and located.

“The site lies within a wider site parcel which was once utilised as part of a golf course.

“The proposal provides a mix of dwelling sizes across the layout that will be predominantly two storey housing.”

The plans include an allocation of 25 per cent for affordable housing.

The firm said the new properties would fit in with other buildings in the area.

Despite the land failing the site selection process for the LDP, it added that surveys showed the issues raised could be overcome.

It said: “In this case, the site was part of a former golf course, which was landscaped by dense, mature, planting and there is presence of significant tree roots which impact on the potential agricultural use of the site.

“Overall, it is demonstrated that the site can be developed safely, without exposing the new development to an unacceptable degree of flood risk and ensuring no increase in flood risk off-site.”

Because of the size of the development, Galliers is required to carry out a consultation before entering a formal planning application to Wrexham Council.

Anyone who wants to comment on the proposals has been asked to write to planning agent Chloë Clark, at Savills, Embassy House, Queens Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1SB or via e-mail at [email protected]

All representations must be received by 7 January 2018.

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

*Pictures: Planning document