Plans to “address local social housing need” in Plas Madoc backed by councillors

Proposals to build 11 new council houses in Plas Madoc have been backed by councillors.

Planning committee members voted unanimously in favour of the development at Gwynant at their meeting last night.

Two years ago Wrexham.com reported that 22 of the three storey, terraced houses in the area had been demolished following an executive board decision in 2016.

At the time the council owned properties, which were previously been described as “difficult to let”, were knocked down as part of a huge modernisation programme in the Plas Madoc area.

Earlier this year plans to build 11 new properties to help “address the social housing need” in the area had been submitted. They included 4 No. one bed apartments, 2 No. two bed houses, 2 No. three bed houses and a 3 No. four bed houses.

There had been concerns that the site lies within C2 flood zone, meaning it is “potentially vulnerable to flooding. However speaking at the meeting, planning officer David Williams explained that there is an “opportunity to raise the finished floor areas to help with any flood prevention”.

He said: “The previous dwellings were demolished now that long ago and now it’s a clear site.

“We would not normally support any residential development in a C2 flood zone, but in this case there are some mitigating factors and we have had further correspondence and discussions with NRW (Natural Resources Wales) in relation to this issue.

“They have withdrawn their previous objection following a flood consequences assessment.

“The reason for this is primarily because there is an element of betterment. There has been a reduction in the number of dwellings and an opportunity to raise the finished floor areas of the proposed dwellings. They have suggested it should be raised by 300mm above the adjacent ground levels which helps significantly with any flood prevention or damage that any flooding could cause.

“The recommendation is for approval. If you are minded to support the officer’s recommendation would need to be reported to the Welsh Government as it is in a C2 zone so there is that fallback if minded to support.”

Ruabon councillor Dana Davies welcomed the development of new council houses in the area and noted that her concerns about flooding and parking had been met in the report.

Cllr Davies said: “I think it is an exciting scheme as we’re looking at council properties. We really need to do this properly with it being one of our first developments.

“I am happy to move the recommendation, as I said all my concerns are covered off with conditions four and six in the report.”

The plans will now be submitted to Welsh Government for final consideration.