‘Further discussion’ needed as Local Development Plan item moved to March Executive Board meeting

Wrexham’s Local Development Plan (LDP) a key document defining development strategy for the next decade and more has been moved from next week’s Executive Board agenda, to a month later.

The LDP lays out the preferred development strategy for the next 12 years and upon adoption it will replace the current adopted Unitary Development Plan (1996 – 2011) and be the basis for decisions on land use planning for the County Borough of Wrexham.

Speaking with several Councillors over the last few weeks it appeared that up to at least Monday evening many expected that the LDP would appear on next week’s Executive Board meeting agenda. The documents would likely have come complete with draft proposals containing details of probable residential development sites across Wrexham, HMOs, gypsy and traveller sites, infrastructure and other overview plans.

Yesterday ahead of the usual publication of the documents ahead of the meeting, the LDP was moved on the Forward Work Programme to March.

We queried with Wrexham Council why there had been a last minute month delay in this part of the ongoing process.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said “Further discussion was necessary on the Deposit LDP, and as such it will return to Planning Policy Panel before going before the Executive Board.”

“However, it will still meet the March deadline set by Welsh Government.”

Earlier this week Councillor Paul Rogers stepped down from the Executive Board for a range of issues, with some reference to the LDP – more here.