Housing plans for former community centre site given go ahead

Plans to convert the site of a former village community centre into a residential development have been given the go ahead by councillors.

The application for the site on Shones Lane, Llay, were discussed by members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee yesterday.

The site of the former community centre has been vacant since the building was demolished.

An application submitted to Wrexham Council proposed that a small residential development was built on the land, consisting of one two storey, two bedroom property, one three bedroom special needs bungalow and a block two storey block of four apartments.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, Planning Officer David Williams explained that the site is brownfield and that national and local planning policy encourages development on such land.

He added: “In terms of proposed use there are three separate buildings, a two storey dwelling, a special needs bungalow and apartments.

“It has been amended so it is more outward looking in terms of the relationship with the surrounding area. It is important the development looked outward rather than inward and facing out towards the road and not focused on the internal area of the site.

“There is access and parking is satisfactory. There are two less spaces than maximum required, however it is in the centre of Llay with good bus routes and public transport.

“I believe it is at an appropriate level and not a justification to refuse.”

It was also noted that there was a Section 106 agreement in place which requires a contribution towards education due to a “shortfall in that area”.

Councillor for Llay, Rob Walsh said he was more than happy to move officer’s recommendation for approval, however noted that that hedge on the outer boundary of the site needed to be maintained to prevent it overgrowing onto the pavement and nearby bus stop.

Reassurance was given that maintenance of the hedge and boundary would be sought to be maintained through a planning condition.

Clarification was also sought about potential overlooking on the adjacent bungalows, however it was confirmed that this would not be the case.

The application was voted through unanimously by committee members.

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