New homes on gym car park approved by councillors

Plans to develop six new houses on a gym car park have received support from planning committee members.

Councillors had been asked to approve the plans. which would be built adjacent to the new development built off Stansty Road – on a section of the Total Fitness car park.

Last week Wrexham.com reported that the application had been described as a ‘piecemeal development’ by local councillor Marc Jones, who also raised concerns from adjoining properties that the houses will be built on higher ground and, as a result overlook their rear gardens.

In the report presented by councillors at Monday’s meeting it was noted that the ground level of the eastern boundary of the site and in turn the gardens of adjacent dwellings is approximately 0.3m lower than the existing car park.

The report states that the “submitted plans confirm that the ground level of the residential parking area will be marginally higher than at present and the ground level of the new gym parking spaces adjacent to the boundary will be broadly similar to existing levels”.

Speaking at this week’s meeting planning officer Matthew Phillips explained that the land being considered for the development lay outside of the initial application and outside of the Total Fitness lease. However it was used as part of the original requirement for adequate parking for the gym.

Mr Phillips added the plans were a “logical extension to the existing development” and that the dwellings would consist of a more contemporary style.

Cllr Graham Rogers, Hermitage ward, asked if the committee should consider a site visit to explore how refuse vehicles could access the development and the impact of building on slightly higher ground.

However committee members voted in favour of giving the development the go ahead.