Over 40 new homes in Gresford could be approved next week despite highway safety concerns

Plans to build more than 40 new houses in Gresford could be approved next week, despite opposition from local residents and the council’s own highways department.

The application, which has been lodged by Gower Homes, proposes that 44 dwellings – 11 of which would be affordable housing – are built on land west of Bryn Isa at Vicarage Lane.

Speaking ahead of the launch of a public consultation on the plans last year, Gower Homes said the affordable homes would be the first built in the village since around the 1950s and are needed to address the demand in the area.

They also stated that the development would be worth £7.5 million and create new construction jobs.

The plans have been recommended for approval by the council’s Chief Officer of Planning and Regulatory, Lawrence Isted, despite 285 objections from local residents and the Gresford and Marford councillors.

Many of the concerns raised focus around highway safety in the area, including an adverse impacts to highway safety, the carriageway being too narrow, a lack of footways along Vicarage Lane, danger from construction traffic and an increase in congestion.

In his response, Gresford councillor Andrew Atkinson, says: “Vicarage Lane already experiences congestion and is dangerous, this development would worsen the existing situation.

“In 2015, an appeal was dismissed for 20 no. retirement bungalows at Trewythen Hall as it was considered inappropriate development in Green Barrier.

“The proposal would result in significant increase in traffic volumes. The cumulative impact of the development granted at Llay would further increase the volume of traffic using Vicarage Lane.”

The council’s highways department add that the development does not meet the guidelines which “require residential developments to provide safe walking and cycling routes to local facilities and public transport stops.”

They add: “Significant concerns are raised that pedestrians would have to walk to and from the village without a continuous footway link.

“A significant percentage of vehicles using Vicarage Lane throughout the week can be attributed to HGV’s as indicated in the previously submitted Transport Statement.

“The proposed traffic calming/footway scheme is not supported by the Traffic Section or Road Safety Section.

There are also concerns that the development is contrary to local planning policies and would have an “adverse impact on local infrastructure.”

But in the report Mr Isted states that the “concerns raised by the Highway Authority are not considered to be so significant as to warrant refusal on highway safety grounds.”

It is also noted that whilst the development is in the green barrier, “the proposals are therefore not an opportunistic or speculative proposal but instead represent a realistic opportunity to make a meaningful contribution towards meeting the housing needs of the County Borough.”

In terms of traffic Mr Isted continues onto to individually address the comments raised by highways department and residents (more here), noting that some of the comments about traffic and visibility are made on assumption.

Mr Isted adds: “The Highway Officer in his conclusions states that the application cannot be supported given the lack of a continuous footway link from the application site to the Chester Road Cross Roads.

“The improvements put forward, which include provision of footways, a priority working system and off-street parking provision are also not supported by the Highway Officer.

“However, for the reasons set out above, I have no reason to believe that the application should be refused on the basis of highway grounds for refusal.”

The application will be considered by planning committee members on Monday 29th July at 4pm. The meeting is open to the public but will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.

Picture: Planning documents / Gower Homes