Long term eyesore derelict properties in Ruabon finally get knocked down

Work demolishing a trio of eyesore properties to make way for affordable housing has begun.

The derelict properties on the site of the old Victoria Garage, Ruabon, have stood vacant since 2004, when a developer started work on three homes on the site.

However the works were never completed and the half-finished houses have sat empty ever since.

Over the years works to secure the site and make it safe has been carried out by Wrexham Council, but due to the complications around ownership and development, the buildings could not be knocked down or outright redeveloped.

In 2017 Wrexham.com reported that a long-running campaign to redevelop the site had been successful and that the buildings had bee acquired by the Crown Estate – who in turn sold them to Wales & West Housing for social housing.

This week work began demolishing the properties – with work building the new houses set to take place within the next month.

The demolition has been welcomed by Clwyd South AM Ken Skates, who said: “These properties have been a blight on Ruabon for years and I know a lot of people locally will be as pleased as I am to see them being demolished at long last.

“I’m glad the Welsh Government has been able to help find a resolution and I’m delighted that we’ll soon have such a positive outcome.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the hard work of local councillor Dana Davies, who is one of a number of people who have made a significant contribution over the years to get us where we are.”

Ruabon Councillor Dana Davies said: “I’m extremely pleased that the demolition is finally taking place and hopeful that families could be moving into the three new properties by the end of this year.

“It’s been a long fight to get a solution but it demonstrates that partnership working can very much benefit our rural areas. I have to thank Wales & West Housing, Wrexham County Borough Council and the Welsh Government for their commitment and support and also Ruabon Community Council and many of our residents for all their help.”

Work demolishing the properties and developing a row of two-bed homes was set to begin last year, but was postponed after bats were found in the buildings.

The housing association had instructed ecologists to conduct surveys to ensure the bats are unharmed and their habitat not damaged by any development on site.

Cllr David Griffiths, Lead Member for Housing, said: “Contractors have commenced demolition work to the empty properties near the corner of High Street and Maes y Llan Lane, Ruabon. The work is expected to take a few weeks, with building work due to start within the month following demolition.

“This is very exciting development in a long-running partnership between ourselves, Wales and West Housing, Welsh Government and Ruabon Community Council, and I’d like to thank all those involved for their co-operation.”

Shayne Hembrow, Deputy Chief Executive of Wales & West Housing, said: “We’re delighted that work is finally underway on site for this small development, which will provide three affordable, high quality and energy efficient homes for families in the Ruabon area.

“The homes will be among the first to be built for us by Brenig Construction, one of our new construction partners in North Wales as we increase our house-building programme across the region.”