New homes in Caego backed for approval despite road safety concerns

Plans to build nearly 50 new homes in a Wrexham village have been backed to go ahead despite concerns over the impact on road safety.

Developers Adra lodged proposals in April last year to create a mixture of apartments and houses on land off Berse Road in Caego.

The company said in documents submitted alongside the application that it had identified a need for new houses in the village next to New Broughton.

However, objections have been raised by community councillors and 44 local residents due to fears the location of the entrance to the site would pose a “dangerous hazard” for drivers.

Opponents have also highlighted the large number of houses which have previously been built in the area, along with work which began earlier this year to construct more than 100 houses on Gatewen Road in New Broughton.

Councillors in Wrexham have been recommended to approve the scheme ahead of a crunch meeting next week, despite members of Broughton Community Council raising several issues.

In their response to the plans, they said: “The proposed access would be a dangerous hazard. The plans make the road appear much straighter than it actually is.

“In reality there is a blind, humpback bridge in close proximity to the planned access and exit to the houses.

“(There has been) over development in the New Broughton and Caego area in the past 25 years or so.

“A further development of over 100 houses was granted to Bellway Homes on the Gatewen Road and is currently in progress.”

They added: “New Broughton regularly suffers severe flooding and this development at that location that will only make the problem worse.

“The community does not have the required infrastructure to cope with existing demand, never mind the development on Gatewen Road and this one.”

According to the planning documents, the development would result in the creation of 12 one-bedroom apartments, along with a mixture of 35 two, three and four-bedroom houses.

The site is allocated for a total of 25 houses in Wrexham Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).

However, a senior official from the local authority said this was not a maximum amount and has recommended the proposals should be approved in a report to members of the council’s planning committee.

David Fitzsimon, chief officer for planning, said: “The proposed dwellings and area of open space would be located entirely within the settlement limit on land that is allocated for residential development.

“The significant under supply of housing over the LDP plan period to date is a consideration that weighs heavily in favour of the additional 22 dwellings over and above the LDP allocation for 25.

“Vehicular access to the proposed development would be from Berse Road. Adequate visibility in line with requirements can be secured in both directions.

“The proposed development would not have an adverse impact upon the capacity or safety of the local highway network.”

He added: “Concerns expressed about the capacity of other local infrastructure are noted.

“However, no information has been advanced from organisations such as Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which evidences a need to provide additional infrastructure to enable the development to proceed.”

A decision will be made on the proposals when the committee meets on Monday (September 2, 2024).

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter