A developer wants to build 1,500 homes on a major site in North Wales. Flintshire based Redrow is consulting on an outline proposal for the development.
The homes would be sited on land at Lower Berse Farm to the west of Wrexham city centre. It is a 72 acre site which sits to the south of Ruthin Road.
Redrow said it would be a “logical” extension of the city. The plans also include a primary school and community facilities.
They could also develop a wastewater treatment plant to remove phosphorous pollution as this issue is currently holding back some developments in Wales due to high phosphorous levels. Fifteen per cent of the homes would be classed as “affordable”.
But any development could be impacted by the decision by Welsh Government to halt proposed junction changes on the A483 in the recent Roads Review. The company said the proposals include a series of highway improvements at the A 483 junction, together with the details of the access points into the site itself, that will enable the additional traffic generated by the development to be accommodated on the highway network.
READ MORE: Village of ‘bunkabins’ could be built in Eryri National Park
Wrexham Council currently does not have a local development plan (LDP) with the draft plan rejected by councillors. The previous unitary development plan expired in 2011. The new scheme includes plans to allocate space for nearly 8,000 homes to be built and will be discussed again by councillors this Wednesday.
This could extremely relevant as under the current policies of the UDP the application site falls within an area designated as Green Barrier wherein there is a presumption against most forms of new development unless there are “very special circumstances”.
But it does form back of the draft LDP.
The developer said: “Fundamentally, this application is the next step in realising a development proposal that has been put forward by the Council in relation to its Draft Local Development Plan. The Council’s own work in considering the proposal prior to it proposing the allocation established the suitability of the location to meet a significant part of the housing land requirement within a sustainably designed development area.
“Whilst at this time the Local Development Plan has not been adopted and, therefore, the Unitary Development Plan, originally approved in 2005, still remains the starting point for the consideration of the proposal, it is clear that there are a series of very special circumstances that justify the development being approved now, despite the fact that the Unitary Development Plan does not promote this particular development.”
Paul Murray, strategic land director at Redrow (NW), said: “We have begun a four-week public consultation to help shape our proposals for around 1,500 much-needed new homes on land off Ruthin Road, Wrexham.
“Alongside a diverse range of homes to meet local need, we’re proposing a community-led development featuring green open spaces, play areas, local amenities and sustainable transport links. The development has been designed to integrate with the character of the local area and support the health and wellbeing of residents. Our current draft proposals also include plans for a new primary school and community centre.
“We would now like to hear from the local community about how this development can provide lasting benefits for existing and future residents, prior to submitting an outline planning application.”
Redrow’s plans can be viewed here: lowerbersefarmconsultation.co.uk. There is also a drop in consultation event taking place from 3-8pm on Thursday, 22 June 2023 at Tŷ Pawb, Market Street, Wrexham.
Sign up for our twice daily North Wales Live newsletter here
READ NEXT: