Plans for 21 new homes on former Wrexham Air Products site set for approval

Plans to build more than 20 new homes on former manufacturing site in Wrexham could be approved next week.

Members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee have been asked to back to the proposals to redevelop an area of land at the Air Products site in Acrefair, which was previously home to a car park and offices.

The land has sat vacant for around a decade after the factory was closed, resulting in approximately 200 job losses. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​

In August 2021 it was reported that an application had been submitted to build 21 new homes – consisting of three and four bedroom properties – on the site off Llangollen Road.

The application has received one objection from a local resident who has raised concern about an existing lack of amenities in the area.

In his report, which can be viewed here, Wrexham Council’s chief officer of economy and planning David Fitzsimon, said: “The proposed development would comprise of 21 two storey dwellings.

“The site layout would provide for strong built frontages to Llangollen Road and within the site. The use of different house types provide for a varied street scene.

“The site layout provides for natural surveillance of the internal road, footways and open space.

“Existing development within the vicinity is largely two storey in scale but of varying architectural styles and layout. The development would be keeping with this and would significantly enhance the appearance of the site and the immediate locality.

“The rear boundaries of the plots adjoining the internal estate road and the side boundaries of the plots either side of the site entrance would need to be enclosed by a high quality means of boundary treatment in order to be visually acceptable. This could be secured by an appropriately worded condition.”

“The development would include an area of open space approximately 0.3ha in area, which exceeds the requirements of the UDP and draft LDP policies.

“However, the majority of the open space would incorporate an existing wooded area, with the remainder being utilised for a SUDS attenuation.

“The open space would retain mature vegetation and make a positive contribution to the appearance of the development. However it would not include any provision for formal or informal recreational provision.

“The Council’s Highway Officer raises no objection and advises that the traffic generated by the proposed development is not expected to have a significant impact on the highway network.

The site access onto Llangollen Road would have adequate visibility in each direction and the internal road layout would safely accommodate larger vehicles such as refuse wagons.

“The Education Department confirms that there is insufficient primary school capacity in locality to accommodate the additional pupils likely to be generated by the development.

“In accordance with guidance in LPG27, it is necessary to secure a financial contribution towards additional primary school provision via a Planning Obligation.

The plans have been recommended for approval subject to Wrexham Council securing a Section 106 agreement  to secure financial contributions towards primary school provision and the maintenance of the on-site public open space and habitat mitigation areas

The application will be considered for approval by members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee at 4pm on Monday 6 November. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Wrexham Council website.

Picture: Planning documents