Four disabled people on council wait list due to get housing – planning granted despite multiple ‘distressing’ objections

Plans to convert a family home into a supported living scheme for people with disabilities has been given the go ahead amid calls for education on what such facilities are after a list of ‘distressing’ objections were lodged against the proposals.

The public gallery at the town’s Guildhall was full yesterday evening, with around 30 residents from the Erddig area turning out to mainly oppose the plans for 58 Ffordd Glyn.

First Choice Housing is working alongside Wrexham Council on the project, which aims to provide specialist accommodation to help individuals live independently.

A report presented to councillors yesterday afternoon noted that four tenants on the council’s waiting list for disabled housing had already been identified to live in the property.

The application had been recommended for approval by the council’s chief planning officer, Lawrence Isted, who said there is a “clear need for additional supported living accommodation to be developed.”

However 143 representations opposing the development had been submitted ahead of the meeting, with concerns summarised in the council’s report including parking issues, the potential background of tenants, an increase in traffic, change to the fabric of the community, loss of a family home, comparisons to a HMO (house in multiple occupation), safety of school children and setting an undesirable precedent.

But Mr Jarvis, who was speaking about the proposed development, said that residents’ concerns were “not about crime” as apparently portrayed in local media, but about a precedent being set in the future.

He said: “There is considerable concern if accepted it will set a precedent for other properties to be bought by developers and converted into flats. Changing again the whole character and nature of the area.

“The client proposed five to six off road parking spaces, which we believe to be an underestimate and will necessitate on-road parking.

“When First Choice Housing and Wrexham Council undertook a new development for four supported living units in Llay, eight spaces were allocated for parking and it was a completely gated situation. I would suggest eight would be the minimum allocation here.

“I note the highways officer had no comment on the proposal, so I would ask if they have visited the site? If eight spaces are required, then on-road parking is a real issue.”

He added that the property does not have access “to shops, public transport, medical and health care facilities” without the use of a car or a taxi.

Cllr Paul Roberts (who represents Erddig ward, and we discovered he claimed milage when he drove there when we looked at councillor expenses), posed a series of questions to the planning and highways officers, including if they felt that by “supporting this application Wrexham Council is advocating an infestation of HMO style properties”.

He said: “I fully support Wrexham Council social services providing appropriate living for residents of Wrexham. However on reviewing this application I wish to highlight material considerations which show inappropriate property selection

“The proposed application not in keeping with all the houses on Ffordd Glyn. The natural surroundings consist of detached properties and there are no flats or apartments on the estate.

“There is a proposed annex to join house to garage and that is not in keeping with all the other properties.

“The property will no longer be a single residential property, but a property being presented as a partitioned block of flats with a converted garage as an apartment.

“This proposed change of use totally contradicts the character and heritage by impacting on the appearance of the area.”

He also raised concerns about increased parking issues and traffic in the area with the additional vehicles and visitors to the street.

The council’s highways officer said there was “no justifiable reasons for refusal on highways grounds” and that if required there is additional space at the front of the property that could cater for parking.

He added: “If there are existing parking issues there they are not being caused by this site, they’re being caused by the existing residents.”

Mr Lloyd, who was speaking on behalf of First Choice Housing, stated that the development is not a HMO and that the “modest extension” would “not significantly change character of building.”

“First Choice Housing Association passionately believes in the ordinary house in the ordinary street approach, and passionately believes that people with learning disabilities should have a visible presence in communities in order to safeguard their rights,” added Mr Lloyd.

Planning officer David Williams said: “In terms of parking it complies with the maximum standards. I know some comparisons were made to one previously approved in Llay, they may well have provided an over provision. That is not to say six provided here do not meet maximum requirement.

“I don’t accept that it’s an area not within close proximity of local amenities and services. It’s on the edge of town, you can walk into Wrexham town centre from that location.

“It is a well established residential area and it is served by public transport.

“As far as the issue in relation to changing fabric of community are concerned and the overall impact the extensions and alterations have on character of area, as professional planner don’t believe there will be.

“If look at elevational drawings within the report, we quite have often dealt with domestic extensions which are far more intrusive than what is being proposed here.”

The Officer also defended ‘allegations’ that had been made about links of ex-council employees with the developers, noting there had been no links that he was aware of, but outlined there could be confusion as one former member of council staff in a different department (Housing not Planning) now apparently worked at First Choice Housing.

The plans were defended by several members on the planning committee, with Cllr Dana Davies, Ruabon ward, stating she found some of the comments submitted in objection to the development “distressing”.

Cllr Davies said: “I think a lot of misinformation has been passed around, because I’ve got supported living in my ward for adults with learning disabilities and I want to reassure everyone here that supported living accommodation enhances your community. It doesn’t take anything away at all.

“Reading the summary and the fact we have elected members comparing this development to HMO style properties is horrendous. HMOs are bedsits, these are flats with kitchens, with living accommodation and bedrooms.

“It talks about crime, antisocial behaviour, impact upon freedom of children, vulnerability of windows and not acceptable for the types of residents who might be housed in the property. I found the whole list which is two pages extremely distressing.

“I think the council and the chief executive with support with our partners could do more work within Wrexham to put forward exactly what supported living is and how it enhances the lives of not only those within the scheme but the communities they are in.”

Such comments were echoed by Cllr Gwenfair Jones, Gwersyllt West ward, who said she fully supported the application.

Cllr Jones added: “This home will accomodate four of Wrexham’s vulnerable residents and like all of us we have a choice where we want to live.

“As a councillor who has a respite ward in my ward, I can assure you it has not caused any antisocial behaviour or increased crime. In fact the neighbours have embraced residents and families.

“Can I propose we support this application and hope the four residents who get to live there become happy in their own home.”

The meeting was unusual as it also saw a late addendum report circulated to councillors, that contained a submission from Wrexham’s new MP Sarah Atherton who wrote “As a social worker I fully appreciate the need for the expansion of supported living facilities in Wrexham and for the Welsh Government, housing associations and the council to work together to support the most vulnerable in our society.”

The MP went on to say she fully supported the ‘intention of this application’ however gave a list of reasons why ‘the property location is unsuitable’. The list included that the extended property would ‘look totally out of character with the residential surroundings, changing the appearance from a residential property to a commercial property’, a lack of parking for residents and carers, and concerns if the supported living came to an end “…the property may be sold as a house of multi-occupation. Residents are rightly concerned that this will have a negative impact on the area and its reputation.”

Cllr Graham Rogers moved that committee members visited the site to see the parking issues in the area before making a final decision.

However 14 councillors voted in favour of giving the application the go ahead with the a condition to create extra parking spaces at the front of the property. One councillor voted against the application and one abstained from the vote.