‘Great Concerns’ Over Housing Proposals For Green Barrier Space

Plans to develop homes on green barrier space in Wrexham could soon be granted, despite ‘great concerns’ over the merging of villages and pressure on local infrastructure.

In an application due before Wrexham’s Planning Committee in September it has been proposed that outline plans to develop 25 homes on green barrier space on Berse Road, Caego are approved. A new access point to and from the site is also included in the plans.

As the application is in its outline stages, final details of how the development would look have not been confirmed.  Initial plans for the site consisted of 34 homes, however a resubmission of how the site could look shows a reduction to 25 dwellings.

Although there has been a reduction is houses proposed for the site, ‘great concerns’ remain by members of the community council, local member and neighbouring residents who have voiced fears over the merging of local villages and the additional strain on local services.

The main fear raised is with regard to the loss of green barrier space and the fact the site is outside the settlement limit. A comment from a local resident notes the ‘green barrier should be protected from development’ and that there are ‘plenty of brownfield sites in Wrexham which can be used’.

However addressing concerns over the loss of green barrier space, Head of Environment and Planning Lawrence Isted references the Local Development Plan which proposes the development of approximately 11,715 new homes over the period 2013-2028.

Taking into account existing housing land supply this equates to a requirement for sufficient land to be brought forward for approximately 6,738 houses to be built

He adds: “The lack of a five year land supply is a very exceptional circumstance and the proposed housing would make a significant contribution to meeting this need. This clearly outweighs any harm caused to the green barrier by the loss of a small amount of green barrier land.”

Issues have also been raised regarding further pressure on local infrastructure and increased traffic generation on Berse Road. However the report notes that there are no objections to the development from the Highways Department.

Mr Isted concludes in his report: “I have given careful consideration to the information submitted in support of the application and the significance of all of the material considerations including the lack of a five year housing land supply.

“Whilst it is acknowledged that the development of the site does not accord with all of the strategic policies relating to the site location, the proposal presents the opportunity to deliver without significant known difficulty, a high quality development which would make a significant contribution towards much needed housing.”

He adds: “The proposal would maintain the openness of the green barrier and does not conflict with the purpose of including the land within it. The development would make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area and I recommend accordingly.”

The application will go before Wrexham’s Planning Committee at 4pm on Monday September 5. For those who are unable to attend the meeting it will be broadcast live and archived on the Wrexham Council website.