6 days ago
Planning application submitted for 900 new homes in Wrexham
An outline planning application has been submitted by Harworth Group to Wrexham Council for the proposed scheme on land known as Erlas Park - situated to the east of Cefn Road.
The proposed site is located close to the Erlas Victorian Walled Garden and Wrexham Rugby Club, and is mainly made up of open grassland and a smaller area of woodland.
The proposed site location. (Image: Planning documents) The site has been a key part of Plaid Cymru councillors' fight against the adoption of Wrexham Council's Local Development Plan (LDP). Last year, Cllr Marc Jones won a landmark Court of Appeal case over the controversial LDP.
The Court of Appeal ruling quashed the High Court judgment of Mr Justice Eyre made in December 2023 and dismissed the controversial judicial review brought by developers seeking to force through a local plan rejected in April and June 2023 by a cross-party majority of Wrexham councillors.
However, an outline planning application has now been submitted for around 900 homes on the site - 20 per cent of which would be designated affordable housing.
A design and access statement submitted with the application says: "Erlas Park provides the opportunity to create an attractive, well-connected, high-quality mixed tenure residential neighbourhood with community infrastructure, greenspace and educational and recreational opportunities.
"Erlas Park will serve to maximise and deliver the principles of sustainable placemaking for a new community to the east of Wrexham. The benefits of locating new housing growth directly adjacent to the main urban core of Wrexham is a logical and highly sustainable ambition."
In terms of access, the design and access says: "Vehicular access to the site will be via Cefn Road, making use of the site frontage along the eastern side of this road.
"Whilst the northern part of the site also has frontage with Bryn Estyn Road, it is not appropriate to form a vehicle access onto this road due to its more rural nature, however an emergency access point can be provided here.
"Two primary points of access are proposed to serve the residential development: one at the northwestern parcel of the site and one at the south-western parcel of the site. A secondary southern access is also proposed to provide emergency access and additional permeability."
(Image: Planning documents) The land to the north of Bryn Estyn Road, is referred to as 'KSS2 (north)' and is being promoted by Barratt and Bloor Homes for 600 new homes. The original application was refused permission in July 2020 and is subject of an outstanding planning appeal.
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The statement adds: "The proposals allow for the provision of a link road connecting the site to the wider KSS2 site allocation to the north to provide connectivity as per the requirements of the Local Plan policy relating to KSS2."
There are also proposals for a 10km cycle track and 5km running route on the site.
The application, which seeks permission on the broad principles of the development before detailed plans are submitted, will be considered by Wrexham Council at a later date.
