Approval granted for housing plans on car dealership and garage site

Outline plans to demolish a motor sales and repair garage to make way for housing have been approved.

The application for Newhaven Garage on Chester Road, Rossett, was debated by members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee on Monday.

Last week Wrexham.com reported that the plans, which include demolishing the motor sales and repair garage and building three houses on the site, had been recommended for approval.

Speaking on Monday, planning officer David Williams explained that the proposals were in an indicative form only, with further details of the dwellings to be provided in a reserved matters application if the outline plans were approved.

He said: “There is a plan on page 55 which shows the proposed arrangements in indicative form only. If you remember this is outline, but it does show a detached property fronting onto Chester Road with a pair of semis which face onto the green.

“You can see it does lie adjacent to conservation area which is on the opposite side of the road. During the course of any reserved matters application we would ensure that any detailed design is done sympathetically and respects the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“The proposal also involves parking for New Haven, which is the existing two storey building. There is provision to provide additional parking for that property which doesn’t presently exist, so there is a benefit there.”

Initially there had been concerns raised by Rossett Community Council, who had said they were “keen that any development is in keeping with the surrounding area”.

They also raised concerns about the height of the proposed dwellings in relation to the neighbouring properties.

However Mr Williams said: “We are aware of the fact that some of the properties in the site are either single storey or one and a half dorms, which lower than conventional two storey height.

“You would expect that to be respected through detailed application and we would probably be looking at a dormer style property for the semis certainly which lie immediately adjoining the single story positioned next door to the site.”

It was also noted that although the Highways department had raised no objections to the development, a request to provide double yellow lines extending 10 metres along the road / junction had been put forward.

Mr Williams said: “In the report it is not accepted, however in hindsight we should probably look at opportunity of doing that as it would improve and control the parking effectively at that point.

“So if members are minded to support it, we would request that is part of recommendation.”

The application was backed unanimously by members of the committee.

*Picture – Google Maps