Inspector and appeal date set for examination of plans for 189 houses between Rhosrobin and Pandy

A planning inspector has been appointed and an appeal date has been set over plans to develop almost 200 homes in Rhosrobin.

The outline application for to develop up to 189 houses on land east of Tan y Bont, just off Llay New Road, were refused by Wrexham Council’s planning committee in March 2017, due to concerns of the use of green barrier space and the coalescence of Pandy and Old Rhosrobin.

The plans were the second of their kind to be submitted for the site, with proposals put forward in 2014 to develop up to 400 homes on the entire stretch of land between Rhosrobin and Pandy.

This application was later revised in 2015 and consisted of proposals to build 338 houses. This was refused due to lying outside the settlement limit, inadequate means of access to the site and the ‘significant and detrimental impact upon Wat’s Dyke, a scheduled ancient monument, and its setting’.

While previous applications for the site proposed housing was developed from the Rhosrobin end of the field down towards Plas Acton Road in Pandy, the outline application refused last year saw the proposed development focus on the land nearest the New Road in Rhosrobin.

The application also proposed that access to site would be provided via a proposed four exit roundabout junction on Main Road, which would also provide access to the Top Farm Road housing estate directly opposite the application site.

In September 2017 an appeal was lodged by Welsh Town Planning & Housing Trust, who were joint applicants with Liberty Properties, in a bid to overturn the committee’s decision.

In their appeal documents the applicants request an inquiry into the council’s decision, stating: “The application is of a scale and complexity to justify consideration through a public inquiry. The main issues of five year housing supply and release of land from the Green Barrier requires detailed assessment and cross examination.

“Expert witnesses are intended to be called upon in respect of planning policy, landscape and visual and scheduled ancient monument. An inquiry allows the opportunity for expert witnesses to present appropriate evidence and allows for cross examination.”

A number of residents in the Pandy / Rhosrobin area have now received letters confirming that an inspector has been appointed by the Welsh Government minister for environment, sustainability and housing – one of the ministers to determine the appeal.

The appeal itself will take place on 12th February 2019 at the Guildhall in Wrexham at 10am.