Opposition mounts against plans for over 100 new homes on land linking two Wrexham villages

Opposion is mounting against plans to build 109 new homes on land which links two villages in Wrexham.

Norris Jones Developments entered proposals last month to build 109 properties on grazing land off Hillock Lane, which runs between Marford and Gresford.

The company said the development was necessary to address a housing shortfall in the area.

However, the plans have been met with resistance by both communities amid concerns about the impact on roads, schools and GP practices, which are already said to be under pressure.

It has led to the creation of the Hillock Lane Action Group to fight against the development.

The campaign group has received the backing of Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton, along with Marford councillor Russell Gilmartin and Gresford’s Andrew Atkinson.

In a letter written in response to the application, the Conservative MP said: “The Gresford Health Centre is already unable to cope with the demand placed upon it by serving residents in both Gresford and Marford.

“Plans are to move the surgery to Llay, which will only make matters worse.

“Rofft and All Saints Primaries are both oversubscribed. This means that schools and GP surgeries will be overwhelmed by the demand placed on them by this development.

“While I accept that this is not a planning matter, it is a consideration that councillors must have and I am a firm believer that developers should be required to incorporate the building of new schools and surgeries into their plans if they are to gain approval in areas that have few amenities.”

A consultation was held by the developers earlier this year over the proposals, despite Ms Atherton calling for the process to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The total number of houses outlined by the company has been reduced slight from its original intentions to create 116 houses on the site.

Cllr Gilmartin, who is a member of the local campaign group, is urging residents to make their views known formally by submitting feedback to Wrexham Council.

The Conservative councillor said: “We know it’s phase one of a much bigger application and that our infrastructure locally is already well over-burdened with a doctors surgery looking to remove itself from our community, school spaces limited and a road network that will become much more dangerous.

“Councillor Atkinson and I are very concerned about the incredibly narrow pinch point at the top of Hillock Lane where cars already struggle to pass on the single lane track.

“It’s dangerous now before adding potentially hundreds more cars making a rat run to the industrial estate.”

The two councillors said many residents had been in touch already stating their opposition to the scheme.

Cllr Atkinson, a former Westminster candidate for the Conservatives, also described the pre-application process as flawed.

He said: “They are formally required to conduct this exercise and lockdown meant we couldn’t respond as we’d need to as local councillors as community meetings to seek residents’ views all went out the window.

“We consider this to be a really bad start and the pre-planning consultation to be seriously flawed.”

Attempts have been made to contact the developers for comment.

In a planning statement, consultants acting on their behalf said: “The need to increase the supply of housing land within Wrexham is a significant material consideration that weighs in favour of the development.

“The council have also acknowledged that upon adoption of the emerging Local Development Plan, anticipated later this year, there will be a shortfall of 94 dwellings and that this can only be met by identifying additional land for development.

“The proposal is a realistic opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the council’s housing land supply which has been persistently and considerably lacking in recent years.”

The firm said the plans would deliver a number of other benefits for the community, including the provision of affordable housing and road safety improvements

The application will be decided by the local authority at a later date.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter