Local Development Plan heads towards public consultation as councillors prepare ground for objections in their wards
A document outlining where thousands of new homes could be built in Wrexham will now progress to the next stage.
Members of the Executive Board unanimously voted in favour of progressing to the next stage of the Deposit Local Development Plan (LDP), which will now go to Full Council later this month for final approval before the launch of a public consultation.
Last week Wrexham.com reported that a draft of the plan and the sites across Wrexham which will likely be allocated for housing an employment over the next 10 years had been finally been revealed.
The document lays out the preferred development strategy up until 2028 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 county borough.
Provision for 8,525 new homes up until 2028 is provided in the draft document – which also estimates that the plan could be the basis for 4,200 new jobs in the area.
Speaking at this week’s Executive Board, Lead Member for Organisation – Planning and Corporate Services, Cllr David Kelly explained that the current plan expired in 2011 and that it is “imperative the local authority make a swift replacement”.
He added: “Subject to approval today and at Full Council the plan is also on track to be consulted on.”
“Recent correspondence with Welsh Government reiterates that delays in the current timetable will not be acceptable. It is imperative there are no more delays – the risk of further delays includes Welsh Government intervention in the plan making process.”
“Subject to approval it is intended a full consultation will take place between 9th April and 31st May.”
Seconding the report, Cllr Hugh Jones, deputy leader of Wrexham Council, said that while he supports the report going to consultation, he has “serious concerns about the specific allocation of sites” in his own ward of Rossett in particular. The comments were a rarity with Executive Board members rarely voicing concern about the contents of reports.
Fellow Exec Board member Cllr David Griffiths unhappy Cllr Jones managed to register his concern over ward issues, points out agenda item is just about going out to consultation, says all Cllrs probably have own concerns about wards.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 13, 2018
Local member for New Broughton, Cllr Alan Edwards, said he had “grave concerns” about the potential strain on highways and education – however noted that he will wait and see the outcome of the public consultation, and said he hoped that the consultation would listen to concerns raised.
Similar troubles about pressure on education services and highways were raised by Southsea councillor Nigel Williams, who urged all members of the public to have their say and engage in the consultation process.
However Cllr Kelly pointed out that most members have site specific concerns about their wards, but pointed out that “none of the site are deliverable without infrastructure improvements”.
He added: “If we adopt the rationale that none of the sites are suitable, then there are no sites to take forward.”
One of the more contentious issues in the LDP is the proposed location of gypsy and traveller sites in the county borough.
LDP 1, the council’s initial housing plan, was pulled several years ago – with gypsy and traveller sites seen as a key reason for its withdrawal.
Three sites are now allocated in the new LDP, with land Brymbo, Hanmer and Llay listed allocated as potential provision.
Cllr Paul Rogers, who had previously cited proposals in the LDP for a gypsy and traveller site in Brymbo as one of the reasons for stepping down from the Executive Board, referenced paragraph 7.4 of the meeting report and queried what would “constitute a Focussed Changes going forward” and whether there was a threshold.
He also asked how many applications have been submitted in relation to gypsy and traveller sites in Wrexham.
The meeting was told there were two applications in the pipeline, which “may or may not influence the amount of accommodations” needed.
Cllr Bryan Apsley, who represents Llay, called for clarification on the proposed traveller site on Pont Y Capel Lane in Llay, telling the meeting he had seen documents that had pointed to some form of covenant that stresses ‘no houses will be built’ on identified land. Cllr Apsley invited the Lead Member and Officers to correct him, and said he would apologise if it was incorrect information, adding he thought it was a ‘folly’ to ‘put out false information’ in the consultation.
Various Officers told the meeting that they were unaware of any covenants, however were due to look at it further.
The eventually passed recommendation read that Councillors were authorizing (authorising?!) ‘the Head of Environment and Planning to make any additional minor wording and grammatical changes to the LDP Deposit Plan’, so it remains to be seen if the investigation concurs and discovers a covenant if that will be enough leeway to make changes.
Further questions on the accessibility and process of consultation were asked, with Cllr Dana Davies being told there will be 13 ‘drop in sessions’ over the proposed seven week period taking place across Wrexham.
It was also noted that lessons have been learnt from previous consultation processes and that procedures are in place to “reach the harder to reach groups”.
Clr Davies points out councillors have vital role to tell their communities about the consultation. Do you know who your councillor is, do you communicate with them, do they talk to you? Ask them stuff if they don't!
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 13, 2018
Further discussion took place over the provision of infrastructure in the LDP document, with bus services and the A483 Wrexham bypass being specific topics.
Clr Morris says if industrial estate expands, means more jobs, so more demand for bus services thus might be more 'attractive' to bus companies. Adds a Section 106 agreement has been used to help fund a sunday service, so could see similar.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 13, 2018
Before the debate was pulled back to the specific recommendations that revolved around an effective Executive Board rubber stamping, it was revealed that around £12m will need to be spent upgrading two junctions of the A483 – and that Officer had put a figure of £60m to make the road locally ‘fit for purpose’.
Clr Pritchard says he has met Minister Ken Skates, who he says is 'in full support of bringing money to Wrexham' to improve infrastructure. All sounds very positive…
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 13, 2018
A further vote on whether to proceed with the public consultation will be made at Full Council on Wednesday 28th March at 4pm.
If approved by councillors, the consultation will begin on April 9th and will last until May 31st and you will be urged to take part formally then, but you can start to get informed by looking at the raw documents below…
Maps / further information of where housing land could be allocated, can be found below in the following PDF’s with as helpful name as provided to councillors. The consultation will be much prettier and more understandable than this:
LDP Map 2 Wrexham Town Centre 2
LDP Map3 Bradley Broughton Brymbo
LDP Map Burton Gresford Rossett
(end of files)
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