Detailed plans for over 70 new homes in Rhosnesni set for approval

Detailed plans to put 74 houses on a field in Wrexham have been backed for approval despite concerns about traffic and road safety.

The controversial proposals to build houses on land off Dean Road in Rhosnesni were approved on appeal by a planning inspector in June 2021.

It came despite permission for the scheme initially being rejected by Wrexham Council’s planning committee two years earlier because of fears over traffic and the loss of a site used as a playing field.

Wrexham University, which owned the land, caused anger when it installed a fence and padlocked a gate to prevent public access in the immediate wake of the local authority’s decision.

The university later successfully appealed as it said it needed to sell the land to a developer to fund improvements to its main campus on Mold Road.

A reserved matters application by Bellway Homes Limited outlining access arrangements, along with the layout and scale of the proposals, is now due to be considered by councillors next week.

The scheme has been backed for approval by the council’s chief planning officer David Fitzsimon ahead of the meeting.

His recommendation comes despite continued objections by community leaders over traffic, road safety and the loss of green space.

In a report, Mr Fitzsimon said: “The principle of development was established on June 26, 2021, when outline planning permission was granted for the erection of up to 74 dwellings. All detailed matters were reserved for subsequent approval.

“The continued local opposition to the proposed development is noted. However, this is not an application for planning permission but an application for approval of reserved matters.

“In dealing with this application, the council is limited to considering the merits of the matters for which approval is sought, namely access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

“Dealing with this application does not present the council with an opportunity to revisit the principle of development or matters such as the capacity of the local highway network and other infrastructure.”

Following the previous planning appeal, a bid was made by campaigners to protect the field by having it designated as a town or village green.

However, an inspector recommended that the application should be rejected, a view which was later endorsed by the council.

Permission was granted for the proposals subject to the developer entering into an agreement to provide 18 affordable homes, as well as retaining part of the site as open space and paying money to boost school capacity.

Access to the site would be provided via Holt Road, which is one of the main routes into Wrexham.

A total of eight objections have been received by the authority in relation to the reserved matters application, with Acton Community Council and local councillors Mike Davies and Andy Gallanders also raising concerns.

Addressing issues raised regarding traffic, Mr Fitzsimon said: “The local members and some objectors have expressed concern about traffic generation.

“The appeal inspector accepted the conclusions of the traffic assessment and commented that the proposed development would not jeopardise highway safety or harm the efficient operation of the road network.

“The highway officer confirms that the access would be provided with adequate visibility splays in both directions.”

The application will be considered by planning committee members when they meet on Monday (April 8, 2024).

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter