Long-running Wrexham planning saga heads for crescendo
Plans for 600 homes first lodged in 2019 could head to appeal in September, the Welsh Planning Inspectorate has indicated.
Barratt Homes and Bloor Homes appealed against Wrexham County Council’s rejection of its plans to redevelop 70 acres off Holt Road in 2020.
Despite a recommendation for approval from officers, the council’s planning committee rejected the outline application for three reasons, including that the site falls outside of the settlement limit set out in the unitary development plan.
The council later rescinded all three reasons for refusal but the decision stood.
A date for an inquiry has not been set in the intervening five years due to delays caused by the ongoing debate around phosphate levels in the River Dee, according to a report to Wrexham County Council ahead of a meeting of its development management committee next week.
The report adds that Planning and Environment Decisions Wales is working towards beginning an inquiry in late September.
Ahead of that, the council will need to submit an updated position statement. Officers have recommended that the initial reasons for refusal remain withdrawn for the inquiry.
Wrexham Planning Department are jeopardising the local economy and communities within the borough by not having dialogue with developer that are trying to bring homes, industry and jobs to the area- what’s their role in the so called ‘Investment Zone’? Petulant in their approach and uninterested in trying to look at solutions for issues.
By Lloyd Jones
@Lloyd Jones – Barratt and Bloor don’t add anything to the area – they’ll build their cheap houses and get out leaving something important unfinished (roads, infrastructure, promised ‘local amenities’) – they’re here to build on your land and get their profit, nothing more.
By John Smith
@Lloyd JOnes – developers trying to bring homes, industry and jobs to the area makes them sound lilke benevolent benefactors being held back by the nasty Planning Department. As @John Smith has pointed out, Barratt and Bloor are here primarily to extract profit before moving onto the next liucky town.
By Jack Mary Ann