Glyndwr University calls for planning inquiry over refusal of almost 200 new homes in Wrexham

Glyndwr University have called for a planning inquiry to be held over the refusal of plans for nearly 200 homes.

Glyndwr University is looking to gain permission for houses across two separate sites under its ownership in order to fund improvements worth £60m to its main campus on Mold Road in the town.

However, the proposals to put 74 properties on playing fields at Dean Road in Rhosnesni and 112 on horse grazing land at Gatewen Road in New Broughton were thrown out by councillors at a meeting in July.

It followed opposition from residents in both communities, who were concerned about the impact on traffic and the loss of green space.

The university has now launched an appeal in a bid to have the decisions overturned, as Wrexham.com was told was happening in our Q&A with the University a month a go.

In documents submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, representatives asked for a joint inquiry to be held into the two schemes and said they would be challenging the issues raised regarding road safety.

They said: “The scheme is a significant proposal which has attracted significant local interest.

“The issues are also complex and would be best addressed via cross-examination, where the position taken by the local authority, particularly on highways, can be adequately and properly tested.

“This appeal is one of two residential applications submitted by Glyndwr University which were refused on 1 July 2019 by Wrexham Council, the other being for 74 units at Dean Road, Wrexham

“Glyndwr request that the two cases are dealt with via a co-joined inquiry, which offers a number of benefits for all parties in terms of resources and availability.”

The proposals for Dean Road were rejected after planning committee members were told of fears over the loss of a field which is regularly used by children for football matches.

The university has promised to provide one replacement pitch at the site, but residents reacted angrily when it built a fence across the land following the refusal of the scheme.

Meanwhile, the New Broughton plans were met with criticism from a council highways officer because of the impact on the roads surrounding Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

In response to the university’s appeal submission, local councillor Alan Edwards has urged planning inspectors to uphold the authority’s decision.

He said: “They’re going with the same plans and they haven’t put anything in place to alter the entrance.

“I can’t see how they can overturn the decision because the entrance is still not appropriate.

“They’ve said transport issues will be resolved with the alterations that have been proposed to the A483, but at the moment there’s no alterations being done.”

The inspectorate has yet to decide whether an inquiry will be held but the university indicated it could last for up to three days.

MORE: You can read Wrexham.com’s Q&A with University’s Vice-Chancellor over the Dead Road plans here.

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