Decision Put on Hold For Green Barrier Housing Development

A decision to develop over 20 homes on green barrier space in a Wrexham village have been put on hold while further consideration is given to increased traffic and local education provision. 

Last week Wrexham.com reported that controversial plans to develop housing on green barrier space on Berse Road, Caego were due before Wrexham’s Planning Meeting.

Access to the site would be provided by a new entrance off Berse Road.

It was also noted by Planning Officer David Williams that ‘considerable discussions’ had taken place with the applicants and that the development had been reduced from 34 homes to 25.

Despite the reduction in homes a number of fears were raised in the initial planning report from members of the community council, local member and neighbouring residents .

Speaking against the proposals, Emma Wheat outlined concerns over increased traffic and visibility issues on Berse Road and the loss of green barrier space.

She said: “The access the road to the site will be located very close to the bend. In the years I’ve lived there a number of vehicles have been removed from the field as they have misjudged the bend.

“In the application it states a 30mph road, the average speed is 35mph. In the evening that’s more like 50mph. There is also the issue of increased traffic noise as cars wait to turn onto the road and light pollution.

“The application states 25 cars which means one per house. It’s rare for houses these days to have just one car.”

Ms Wheat continued onto say: “Caego and New Broughton have had nearly 400 new houses built since 1999. There have been no new schools, doctors or dentists, all of which are at saturation point. The congestion on this road and traffic is at saturation point.

“Villages in Wrexham are all merging into one. If planning is granted on green belt sites there will be no individual villages. These villages need to be maintained to ensure that Wrexham in the future remains a special place to live.

“If the housing need for Wrexham cannot be built on brownfield, maybe it’s time to look at alternatives to build a new village on the outskirts of town, maybe on the way to the Industrial Estate. This will stop further erosion of our current villages.”

However Mr Williams noted that ‘serious consideration’ needs to be given to the use of green barrier space due to a shortage of housing land in the county borough.

Mr Williams said: “This is one of a number applications we have seen before and will inevitably see in future with development on green field site. It is in green barrier is outside the settlement limit. There have been cases when similar sites have been refused and others accepted.

“What I’ve said in the past and the same on this occasion is you have to look at each case on its own merits. Can’t refuse as contrary to policy – circumstances have changed in recent years given the shortage of housing land in the county borough.

“In terms of green barrier this is one aspect you need to give serious consideration to. In a number of cases tend to look for defensible boundaries – we look for a controlled extension of existing urban area. We do have residential on each side and disabled railway on eastern side.

“In terms of impact on settlement, the layout has been designed to meet our separation standards to ensure privacy is maintained. A number of properties face into Berse Road, it is a natural extension to it and it doesn’t turn back on it.”

Addressing the concerns over traffic and parking on the road, a spokesperson for the Highways Department added: “The development is only 25 houses, which is on average on car every three minutes at peak hour.

“Given the low level of traffic generation it is difficult to justify a refusal. The visibility more than meets Welsh Government standards.”

One key issue raised regarding the development centred around the impact any further development in the area will have on education in New Broughton.

Local member for the New Broughton area, Cllr Alan Edwards said: “I have said the school in New Broughton cannot take anymore pupils. In the last 20 years the village has tripled in size.

“I am disappointed with the education department in this with the Section 106 agreement. There is money already there from 106 from Gatewen Road development, which can’t be used in New Broughton to enlarge and New Broughton has no where to enlarge.”

Concerns over the education provision were echoed by Cllr David Kelly, who said: “I agree with concerns that we haven’t come up with a solution on this with regard to education and hoped we would have had something more concrete on how we can provide for these pupils when there is money already banked there in that community. Whether it needs a new school or something I don’t know.

“I don’t know if the committee is mindful to defer it until we have a solution for education, as education is going no where in this area at the moment.”

Cllr Rob Walsh added: “Even if 106 money if forthcoming, the member has reiterated school is now at capacity and has no room for an extension. If there is no room, what does that mean?

“Will 106 be invested in other schools nearby, or a new school in future? We may have families in New Broughton who have historical links to school who cant get kids of grandkids in that school.”

However Mr Williams stated that it is for the eduction authority to ‘determine how those children are schooled and what location.

A site visit was proposed by Cllr Andrew Bailey, who said: “What might look good on paper might look different if we look at it. I move a site visit to look at pedestrian links and traffic issues that have been raised. Also like to make a judgement if it is a merger or coalescent of communities.”

Chair of the committee Cllr Mike Morris added: “What it might possibly allow us to do, and I take the David’s point that the planning committee are not the education department and we take advice from them.

“But if concerned about the quality of the report and if the quality of the report is sufficient to make informed judgement, it’s only right we ask them to justify how they are going to satisfy education provision in that area.

“Will give the chance to go back to education and ask practically how they are going to do this, as it hasn’t happened with Gatewen Village.”

Members of the planning committee backed proposals for a site visit.

The application will go before Wrexham Council’s Planning Committee again at a later date.