Works to progress on Gatewen housing plans despite local concerns over flooding

Work to enable a major housing development in a Wrexham village to progress have been approved.

The council’s planning committee considered an application from Bellway Homes seeking to press on with building 112 new properties on a site to the north of Gatewen Road in New Broughton.

They secured outline permission on appeal a couple of years ago but progress has since been stymied by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) targets to reduce river phosphate levels in special areas of conservation (SAC) across Wales.

Targets were implemented after concerns about developments across Wales causing an increase in phosphate concentrations – which can cause water pollution in rivers, such as the River Dee, which affects Wrexham.

The developer has since drawn up a raft of enabling works to take place to mitigate the issue ranging from construction of site access to making safe a former reservoir and disused well and the demolition of a relic structure the last remaining Gatewen Colliery building on the site.

A report to the committed suggested a condition can be imposed that there will be no demolition until a programme of building recording and analysis has been undertaken with an investigation submitted to and approved in writing by the council. The survey will be completed by a professional archaeological contractor.

Alan Edwards, the former councillor for New Broughton, spoke at the meeting against the application fearing a loss of hedgerow could lead to more flooding in the area.

He also called for another entrance to the site, describing New Road as “the worst road in Wrexham”.

Imogen Zulver, representing Bellway Homes, said the recording of the relic structure was not something the company was obliged to carry out but were doing so for the local community.

New Broughton Cllr Claire Lovett (Ind) spoke of flooding problems on New Road and the “grave concerns” of residents about progression of the development.  She called for protection of the relic rather than recording.

Adjoining ward member Gwenfro Cllr Nigel Williams (Ind) mentioned the A483 junction works in the pipeline at the time the application was granted on appeal but have since been scrapped, a situation he felt questioned the “validity” of the planning approval.

He said the current hedgerows and trees in place mitigate floods and the village’s flooding problems could be worse if the earthworks take place and lamented the loss of mature trees on the site.

Cllr Williams added that the village’s industrial heritage should be preserved and felt the developer was “disenfranchising local people”.

Planning officer Matthew Phillips reminded councillors they were only considering the enabling works and not aspects of the plan that have already been approved, and that there was no requirement for the developer to preserve the relic.

He added: “It is not an opportunity to revisit or seek changes to the development.”

Ruabon Cllr Dana Davies (Lab) said the application was an opportunity to give the community more assurances around drainage and was happy to propose granting the application.

Glyn Ceiriog Cllr Trevor Bates (Ind) asked whether the relic structure could be incorporated into the new development to “build bridges with the community.”

Planning chair Holt Cllr Mike Morris (Con) said that was not a condition the council could impose due to the permission granted two years ago.

Grosvenor Cllr Marc Jones (Plaid) backed Cllr Bates’ comment, calling on councillors to list landmarks in their wards the community wishes to preserve, but also suggested the developer could help with improvements to New Road.

He said: “The ship has sailed, we all know that, but I too would like to appeal to the developers’ better nature.

“Perhaps we’re whistling in the wind but I think you’ve got to do this.

“I would make a plea, that we as councillors need to be more proactive in creating our own local protection list that maybe Cadw doesn’t have, but we as a community feel is important.”

He added: “If you want to make friends in the community, you should consider whether you could help the residents of New Road. That, as I’m sure you are aware is a moonscape. It’s an absolute mess, one of the worst roads I’ve ever seen in Wrexham.”

But Cllr Morris confirmed New Road was not the responsibility of the developer.

When put to the vote, the committee granted the application.

By Rory Sheehan – BBC Local Democracy Reporter