59 Houses In Summerhill Set For Refusal: ‘Significant Detriment’ to Openness of Countryside

Plans to build almost 60 houses in Wrexham look set for refusal due to an increase in traffic generation and the development’s ‘significant detriment upon the openness of the countryside’.

The outline application, which will go before Wrexham Council’s Planning Committee on April 3rd proposes that a housing development consisting of 59 dwellings is built on land to the east side of Bottom Road, Summerhill.

The application has been recommended by Officers for refusal by the Committee.

Plans for the site were submitted to Wrexham Council in August 2016, with the applicant stating at the time the development ‘aims to strike a balance between the provision of housing with sufficient parking, amenity space, landscaping and the preservation of the existing key features of the site’.

However the application has faced strong objection from the Gwersyllt Community Council, who state that the “proposed siting of the development is particularly ill‐considered as the site forms part of the green barrier and is outside the settlement limit”.

Further feedback from the community council continues onto say: “The development would represent an unnecessary and undesirable encroachment into the countryside and the proposal is contrary to a number of existing planning policies that have been put in place to protect green barrier land
from inappropriate development and to safeguard the character of existing settlements.”

The community council also raised concerns about the ‘significant increase of traffic’ the development would have, along with the effect on local infrastructure and services.

Similar concerns were echoed by neighbouring residents, with Wrexham Council receiving 44 objections to the proposed development.

Such comments against the outline plans included the increased pressure on local schools / health centre, issues with parking and the unsuitability of roads in the area. Fears that the ‘development has started residential creep which will only encourage more developments of this kind’ were also raised by local residents.

One response was also received in support of the development, with one resident stating: “Whilst the loss of green fields would be unfortunate the proposal will provide affordable housing allowing existing resident’s and families to remain where they live.”

Objections were also submitted by the Council’s Highways Department, who requested that the application was refused due to the substandard pedestrian / cycle provision and the roads being unsuitable to accommodate the increase in traffic likely to be generated by the development.

Within his report the Head of Environment and Planning states that he is ‘satisfied that the principle of development in this location is broadly acceptable’ – noting that ‘the site is easily accessible to key local provisions’ and that ‘the Gwersyllt area is one such area where population increase is inevitable’.

However he also continues onto comment on potential issues with the density of the proposed dwellings and that he considers the ‘design solution presented to be extremely poor without any attention given to the local settlement pattern and density and represents an inefficient use of land’.

Addressing the concerns about increased traffic generation, the head of environment and planning notes that a Transport Assessment on roads in the area found a 78% increase in traffic movements at morning peak and 48% increase at evening peak.

He continues onto say: “Whilst the traffic count was carried out during a school holiday period (against good practice) it still represents a significant increase in traffic movements on a substandard highway network and ultimately it would not be possible to support the traffic movements associated with an additional 59 dwellings.”

The Head of Environment and Planning concludes his report by stating: “The site is located outside any defined settlement limit. The Council acknowledges that it is unable to demonstrate a five year housing land supply and this is a significant consideration in the planning balance.

“However the proposal will result in an increased level of traffic using a wholly substandard highway network, the proposed mitigation measures for which are considered to be inadequate and inappropriate.

“The proposal is also considered to be inappropriate in terms of its overall design and would have a significant detriment upon the openness of the countryside. These concerns are not outweighed by the Council’s need to provide housing land and I recommend accordingly.”

The application will go before Wrexham Council’s Planning Committee at 4pm on April 3rd. For anyone who can’t attend the meeting, it will be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.