Posted: Wed 3rd Jun 2015

Proposals For Council To Sell Or Demolish Bryn Estyn

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 3rd, 2015

The future of Wrexham Council’s Erlas Centre, previously known as Bryn Estyn, and the surrounding site is to be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Executive Board.

One option on the table is the proposed demolition of the site, along with other options including a site sale, with a further suggestion houses could then be built on any newly cleared site.

The initial process revolves around a ‘soft test’ of the market, to discover if there are any interested parties to purchase the site and if so at what price. Once that is completed further discussion will take later in the year to decide on the final courses of action.

The plans are taking place due to the Council’s Office Accommodation Strategy which aims to make ‘more efficient use of town centre office accommodation and improved office design in order to ensure the Council achieved savings by reducing the number of buildings it rents‘ as well as ‘securing capital receipts through disposing of buildings no longer required‘ of which the Erlas / Bryn Estyn site is one.

Current use will cease shortly with the ‘decanting’ of all staff from the main building completed by the end of July.

The report also considers the future of the Adult Social Care Timber Cabin and the Erlas Victorian Walled Garden which both operate on parts of the site.

Ecological works at the site have been undertaken and findings indicate the presence of Great Crested Newts, Brown Long Eared Bats, Lesser Horseshow Bats and Pipistrelle bats which must be taken into account on any future development of the site with appropriate mitigation in put in place.

The proposals also contain reference to the quest to build an extra 10-13,000 houses in Wrexham, citing the site as a probable greenfield development site. The report reads: “This site is potentially key to the sustainable future of the County and the options for accommodating new greenfield development on the edge of Wrexham town are limited. If we are determined as an Authority to show our commitment to deliver a development plan within the agreed timescales then the future of the Erlas Centre needs to be included as part of a wider masterplan integral to the development of the LDP.

Cllr Neil Rogers, acknowledging the sensitivity attached to the Erlas Centre said: “The Council is sensitive to the fact that there are former victims of abuse who may wish to be aware of the proposals going forward and staff have worked closely with Operation Pallial staff to ensure as many of them as possible have been informed in advance of this news being made public.  We would like to thank Operation Pallial staff for their help in this matter.”

The report states Operation Pallial Officers are aware of the options paper being presented and their own communications strategy has been put in place. Their official communication line is as follows: “We are aware that the future of Bryn Estyn is under consideration. Operation Pallial does not require any further access to the location as part of our investigation. The future of the site is a matter for the local Council.”

“We have been working in partnership with the Council to try and ensure that all victims are made aware before any media publicity. We always strive to inform victims directly about key updates that may impact on them as part of our victim focused approach”.

There is also a wall at the back of the main Erlas property which has names of victims engraved/written on them, the report says: “This needs to be considered as part of any decision made for the whole site”.

Council Leader Mark Pritchard echoed Neil Rogers comments, saying: “We should all treat this report with the respect and sensitivity it deserves.”

The full report PDF can be found by clicking here.

(There is a thread from October 2014 regarding the starting of this process, updated with a link to this article – viewable here.)



Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]



Have a look at...

Turnover up 75% as Wrexham AFC say ‘losses shouldnt be repeated’ as payroll nears £7m

Off-road motorcyclists ‘using their bikes dangerously’ warned they ‘will be seized’

Saturday’s Wrexham Artisan Market to be ‘showcase’ of local and national products

MMA Event coming to north east Wales this weekend!

Rare newts thriving after north east Wales pond restoration

Plans for new studio flat above Wrexham fast food restaurant

Football Banning Order issued to Wrexham man for ‘pyro offences’

Ambulance Service ‘expecting the Bank Holiday period to be a busy one for us’

Reminder to check for Schools Essentials Grant before window closes at end of May

Wrexham AFC Women Awarded first UEFA License and FAW Tier 1 License renews for 2024/25 Season

“Disrespectful” easter egg hunt in cemetery cancelled after backlash

Free Easter Egg Hunt in Wrexham city centre tomorrow!