Anger at Brymbo ‘Green Sites’ Considered For Development in LDP

Brymbo Community Councillors have responded angrily to green sites around the village being considered as sites for residential development as part of Wrexham Council’s Local Development Plan.

County Councillor for Brymbo Paul Rogers and Councillor David Kelly of Minera who is Lead Member for Planning informed members that sites had been put forward by landowners and it was vital residents were aware.

The LDP document lays out the preferred development strategy for the next 12 years and upon adoption it will replace the current adopted Unitary Development Plan (1996 – 2011) and be the basis for decisions on land use planning for the County Borough of Wrexham.

The LDP is focused on achieving sustainable development and will provide a long-term strategy for land use and development in the County Borough throughout the plan period. The LDP will:

· guide development for housing, employment, retail and other uses;
· set out policies that will be used to decide planning applications; and
· safeguard areas of land requiring protection or enhancement.

It is estimated that over the next 12 years over 12,000 new homes will need to be developed across the county borough, with 1200 set to be on brownfield sites and the remainder on green spaces.

However Cllr Rogers told members that he had received multiple concerns regarding the proposals which would see green fields between Brymbo and Tanyfron developed.

Some of the green sites were also being considered by Brymbo Developments Ltd to be included within their new masterplan for the former steelworks site. Members were told that the plans were put into the public domain by Brymbo Heritage Group via Facebook.

Cllr Rogers said: “As of yet no planning applications have been submitted to the Council however these sites have been put forward as part of the LDP process and residents are quite rightly concerned as this community has seen substantial development in recent years. I would urge residents to contact the Council with their views.

“I have given very strong views on this to the developer. As a current member of the Planning Committee I feel it is important I do not compromise my position to be able to participate in the debate if an application is submitted.”

Councillor David Kelly commented on the pressures facing infrastructure in the town centre including key access points to the town at the Mold and Ruthin Road interchanges off the A483.

Long standing member Councillors described the developers as “ruthless” and said that supporting additional housing would be a “betrayal of the community”.

Councillor Rogers said he would be urging residents to participate in the LDP process as it develops over the next 12 months.

Copies of all the documents are available to read online on the LDP Consultation Portal which can be accessed via the Council’s website: www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp Comments on the documents are welcomed and should be submitted via the Consultation Portal.

A series of drop-in events are planned as part of the consultation where Officers will be available to discuss the proposals. Full details of which can be found on the Wrexham Council website.