Approval granted for three new council houses in Acton despite concerns over parking

Plans to build three new council houses in Acton have been given the go ahead.

Members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee backed the proposals for land opposite 35 Derwent Crescent at a meeting on Monday (2 October).

The ‘hardstanding land’ is currently occupied by 11 council-owned garages.

As part of the plans the garages will be demolished to make way for three bungalows, which will be used to “provide long-term housing for residents of Wrexham and will be used for family occupation.” ‌

Speaking at Monday’s meeting planning officer Matthew Phillips told the committee that just three of the garages are currently in use.

He added that the local authority is in the process​ ‌of relocating those tenants.‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

However concerns were raised about the loss of land being proposed for the development, with the committee told that it is used by local residents for parking provision.

Local councillor Corin Jarvis said that whilst she supports the development of new council housing, she remains concerned about the loss of parking.

Cllr Jarvis said: “I understand that the area is not specifically allocated for their parking and residents don’t have the right to park there.

“Due to the new housing legislation and regulations, the new properties will have two car parking spaces per property.

“As you can imagine the surrounding residents will lose the parking spaces that they use as the overflow to make way for the houses and the new parking.

“I can only speak for myself on this one but I can imagine that in similar circumstances many members would be somewhat annoyed by this if this was in their local area and they were losing parking that they’ve used for years and years.

“We have elderly residents and disabled residents who would have to walk a significant way to park on another street.

“I’m asking you all today to consider the impacts on the surrounding residents when you’re making your decision and also to consider what actions yourselves and the Council could take to minimise the impacts.”

Cllr Becca Martin, who also represents the Acton area, echoed Cllr Jarvis’ concerns and requested that the council to explore alternative options for residents’ parking in the area.

Planning officer Matthew Phillips noted that the land isn’t allocated as parking for residents but agreed that discussions could take place to look at alternative parking provision for existing residents.

Mr Phillips said: “I’m happy to raise that question with colleagues in in housing, although it would be independent of us dealing with this application.”

The plans were backed unanimously by members of the council’s planning committee.