Dates set for public hearing into Wrexham’s Local Development Plan

Dates have been set for a series of public hearings into a blueprint for about 8,000 new houses in Wrexham.

Wrexham Council submitted its Local Development Plan (LDP) suggesting possible sites for new development to the Welsh Government towards the end of last year.

The majority of politicians in the county borough voted it through, despite strong opposition and claims the document was ‘fundamentally flawed’.

Many of the concerns raised centred on the scale of development, as well as the potential location of three new gypsy and traveller sites in Brymbo, Hanmer and Llay.

A pre-hearing meeting has now been announced which will take place on Tuesday June 25, at Wrexham’s Guildhall.

The full hearing sessions are then due to start on Tuesday, September 3.

The local authority said it was an opportunity for members of the public to make their thoughts known.

A spokesperson said: “Wrexham County Borough Council has submitted the Local Development Plan  to the Welsh Government for examination.

“Once adopted, the LDP will replace the Unitary Development Plan (1996-2011) and form the basis for decisions on land use planning for the county borough of Wrexham.

“Lead inspector Siân Worden and assistant inspector Melissa Hall of the Planning Inspectorate have been appointed to conduct the examination which will include a pre-hearing meeting to be held at 10.30am on Tuesday, June 25.

“At the pre-hearing meeting, the inspectors will outline the procedures to be followed during the examination hearing sessions.”

One the hearings have concluded, the inspectors will create a final report, which the council will be required to comply with.

The LDP would then be in effect until 2028 and during the period it would be used to guide development for housing, employment, retail and other uses.

It also sets out the policies that will be used to decide planning applications and safeguard areas of land requiring protection.

More details can be found on the LDP consultation portal.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).