Development of 73 Houses Recommended For Wrexham

Controversial proposals to develop more than 70 properties on land in Wrexham have been recommended for approval.

In a report due to go before Wrexham’s Planning Committee on May 5th, controversial proposals to develop 73 residential dwellings on land west of Ley Farm on Green Lane in Chirk have been recommended for approval.

The application consists of a combination of 20 two bedroom dwellings, 42 three bedroom dwellings and 11 four bedroom properties. Also included in the development is the creation of new access from Sycamore Drive and the creation of a play area and public open space.

However the proposals have been met with strong concern from the Chirk Community Council, who have raised fears over the impact the development will have on those who live on neighbouring estates and existing sewage issues in the area.

Speaking about the development the Community Council note: “The proposed development site is on steeply sloping ground. Ground and surface water run-off from the site is a serious flooding problem to properties on Sycamore Drive and nearby. This water eventually goes into the combined sewerage system that surcharges and floods the area and properties with polluted water. This is a fact. The building of 73 dwellings will exacerbate this serious problem.

“The Council recommends that planning permission is not granted until the sewerage system for Chirk is made capable of dealing safely with all sewage flows at all times without causing
flooding or other nuisance.”

Concerns have also been raised by the National Trust who have noted that the development may have an impact on the views from Chirk Castle. Within the Planning Report comments from the National Trust include: “The Trust is concerned about the effect of the proposed development on the views from the terrace, which are an intrinsic part of the design and special interest of the garden.”

Comments from the National Trust continue onto say: “The Trust is concerned that on the elevated areas of the proposed scheme. The application site is a hillside site on the edge of Chirk. The slope, direction and elevation above the rest of the town make the site more visible than other areas of Chirk from the parkland at Chirk Castle.”

A total of 61 individual letters, three petitions with a cumulative total of 58 signatures were also received objecting to the proposed development. However three representations expressing
approval for the development going ahead subject to roads and drains in Sycamore Drive and Ash Grove being adopted and maintained, were also received.

The Planning Report due to go before Councillors concludes: “The principle of development is already established on this site via an extant planning permission and the fact that it lies within the settlement limit. The proposed development represents an improvement over the extant planning permission in terms of design, highway gradients, open space provision and drainage. The site can be developed without significant adverse impact upon highway safety and without adversely impacting upon the amenity of nearby occupiers.

“It is also presents an opportunity to secure the upgrade of Sycamore Drive to adoptable standards. However it should be noted that the scheme does not propose to secure any affordable housing as this was not raised as an issue for previous planning applications/decisions for housing development.”

The application will go before Wrexham’s Planning Committee on Tuesday 5th May at 6:30pm at the Guildhall. For those who can’t attend it is anticipated the meeting will be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.

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