Updated: Plaid Cymru councillor calls on Welsh Government to stop controversial housing development in Wrexham
A Plaid Cymru councillor has called on Welsh Labour to “stop a 1520 housing development on the outskirts of Wrexham in its tracks.”
Cllr Carrie Harper, said the Welsh Government is “trying to impose” Local Development Plan (LDP) on the county borough, despite being rejected by a majority of councillors on two separate occasions.
Cllr Harper’s comments come after outline plans were formally lodged to build more than 1,500 new homes at Lower Berse Farm.
The controversial plans also include a new primary school and community facilities.
According to the application the mix of housing would be determined by market conditions at the time and include a range of one to three-bed affordable homes and three to four-bedroom private homes.
Earlier this week Clwyd South MS Ken Skates and Wrexham’s MS Lesley Griffiths urged local residents to comment on the application via the council’s online planning portal.
Wrexham MS Ms Griffiths said: “Several constituents have contacted me in recent months expressing their concerns regarding the proposed housing development at Lower Berse Farm.
“As the Local Planning Authority, Wrexham Council is required to consult with residents as part of the application.
“The Local Authority’s bizarre decision to reject its own Local Development Plan means it is more likely we will have uncontrolled and unplanned developments in Wrexham, so it’s vitally important people make their voices heard.
“Although I will not have a vote in the decision-making process, I will, of course, make representations on my constituents’ behalf.”
However Cllr Harper has argued that the Welsh Government could stop the development from going ahead.
Cllr Harper said: “This housing development has been submitted because Redrow see that the Welsh Government is refusing to accept Wrexham Council’s decision to reject a Local Development Plan.
“The council has twice refused to accept the LDP because it will enable two huge new housing estates on the Ruthin Road and Cefn Rd – amounting to more than 3000 new homes.
“The Welsh Labour Government, of which Lesley Griffiths is a cabinet member, is trying to impose this plan on Wrexham. The plan allocates greenfield land for these two massive housing development.
“It’s no surprise then that Redrow and several other large housing developers are taking the council to court to try to get a judge to impose the LDP against the democratic wishes of Wrexham.
“So it’s more than a bit cheeky of Lesley Griffiths and other Labour politicians to suddenly say they’re against this specific housing development when the LDP they’re backing 100% is allowing the development to happen.
“I want to hear Lesley and other Labour politicians explain that contradiction. Let’s have a public debate here in Wrexham where we can hear both sides of the argument.
“Better still, let’s have a debate in the Senedd where Labour can try to defend the indefensible and explain why it’s backing developers over democracy.”
Lesley Griffiths MS said: “As the MS for Wrexham, constituents have contacted me expressing their concerns about the development at Lower Berse Road and, now the planning application is live on Wrexham Council’s website, I have urged residents to respond and take part as that is the correct course of action.
“I, unlike local councillors, have no say in the decision-making process but I will, of course, make representations on behalf of my constituents.
“It is more important than ever people have their say on these planning matters because Wrexham Council remains the only Local Authority in Wales, and possibly across the UK, not to have a Local Development Plan (LDP) in place.
“The LDP allows the Local Authority to be the driver for change but not having a plan means Wrexham is vulnerable and open to uncontrolled and unplanned developments.
“Wrexham’s LDP was years in the making. It is the Council’s own plan, which was deemed sound by local and national independent inspectors, yet local Plaid councillors aligned themselves with the ruling Tory / Independent administration and acted unlawfully by rejecting it twice.
“Their costly, irresponsible political games are having serious repercussions and the people of Wrexham deserve better.
“If Cllr Harper’s concerns are genuine, rather than writing to the local press, she is more than welcome to email me directly.”
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