Future of Nine Acre field could be decided by end of July

The future of Nine Acre field could be decided by the end of next month.

Wrexham.com understands a Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for the second half of July with the plans for a new school on the land set to be discussed.

The development would result in St Mary’s Catholic Primary School relocating to the site from its current base in the town centre, however there has been opposition to the plan from people living in the Maesydre area over a claimed shortage of green space.

The proposed development includes provision for around 315 pupils, along with 45 nursery places.

Along with a new school, the proposals also include be two football pitches, a forest school, hard play area, staff car park, coach car park and a pupil drop off point. Access to and from the site would be provided via Rhosnesni Lane.

The matter was due to be heard back in January however the process was paused as the Welsh Government considered if they should ‘call in’ the decision, something they rejected while noting that no weight should be attached to that move.

With the local council elections the matter has been delayed further, and although a date has not been confirmed nor any fresh official papers published we understand it is likely a second Planning Committee of the month could be held on the 25 July.

The meeting could be a straight yes or no to if a school gets built – depending who the actual applicant is for the proposed development.

Usually members of the committee have to form up planning reasons to reject an application that are strong enough to be defended at any appeal (at least in theory) however due to the nature of the application, they could be able to just vote to reject it with no formal basis.

We fact checked if Wrexham Council could appeal applications made in its own name, with the council telling us: “Should ‘Wrexham County Borough Council’ submit a planning application which is subsequently refused then the Council cannot appeal this decision as stipulated in relevant Regulations.

“Should the application be submitted by another department or school, other than Planning (or the Council generally) then a refusal could be appealed.”

The planning application documents from January is redacted to the specific applicant, as is usual for such forms:

More detail is provided in the documents that were made public ahead of the meeting in January – specifying the council as the applicant – rather than a separate name for example in the case of Borras Park School development.

There appears to be no new fresh application lodged on the council’s planning portal, which could indicate the above information as correct since July 2021 still stands for the forthcoming agenda.