Penley housing development recommended for approval despite concerns from local residents

Plans to build 15 new homes on land in Penley could soon be given the go ahead despite opposition from local residents.

Members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee will be asked approve an application to redevelop Brookfield Close, Ellesmere Lane, at their meeting next week.

In April Wrexham.com reported that proposals for a mixture of two, three and four bedroom properties – including bungalows, detached and semi-detached homes had been put forward for what was described by the applicants as “under-utilised land”.

However the plans have faced opposition by the local community council, who say that the application “performs badly when measured against” a number of planning policies.

They argue this includes having an adverse impact on the landscape by substantially obstructing views of the open countryside, materially and detrimentally affecting the countryside, landscape character, open space and the quality of the natural environment and a lack of public transport in the area.

The community council adds: “Penley has received more than its fair share of new residential development over the last few years with much of it concentrated, quite properly, onto the former Penley Hospital brownfield site now known as Penmere Park.

“That development, by Morris Homes Ltd, has been completed and yielded around 110 plus units of accommodation.

“Wrexham Council has also recently granted planning permission for a further 37 dwellings within the village. This we believe meets all local needs, with quite a few of these houses currently on the market.”

Concerns have also been raised by a number of residents, including the land falling outside the settlement limit, brownfield sites in the area being better suited to development and schools being at capacity.

But the council’s chief officer of planning and regulatory, Lawrence Isted, has recommended the plans are approved subject to a Section 106 agreement being secured within six months.

This would include a management company for the maintenance of all communal areas including private access driveway, footways and hard and soft landscaped areas and planted features’, a financial contribution for primary and secondary education and towards off-site public open space provision.

In his report, Mr Isted says: “The proposal does not entirely comply with the guidance since it is not within existing settlement limits and is not brownfield.

“However in terms of being located within a sustainable location with accessibility to employment, shops, church, schools etc. the site is within easy access on foot and is just as accessible as those within the adjoining settlement.

“There is also a regular bus service to Wrexham, Whitchurch and Oswestry during weekdays.

“Despite the fact that the proposal does not fully comply with UDP Policies H5, PS1 and PS3, given the sustainable location of the development and its edge of settlement location, I accept that its development for residential use in principle would not cause any detrimental harm to the countryside.”

He adds: “The development of the site is justified in this instance as contributing to the five year land supply whilst at the same time being in a sustainable location and providing an acceptable form of development.”

The application will be considered for approval by planning committee members on Monday 6th January at 4pm. The meeting will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.

Picture: Planning Document