Wrexham’s Local Development Plan “meets the tests of soundness”, says inspectorate

Wrexham Council say they have received the Welsh Government Inspectors’ binding Report following the completion of the Local Development Plan 2013-2028 (LDP) Examination in Public.

The Inspectors’ Report concludes that the LDP meets all relevant procedural requirements and meets the tests of soundness.

As part of the statutory process, the LDP will now be presented to the Council’s Planning Policy Panel followed by the Executive Board on 18 April.

Usually Wrexham Council are very caution in prejudging outcomes of the Executive Board – however they say it “will then be considered by Full Council at an extraordinary meeting the following day”.

The long-running saga of Wrexham’s LDP will eventually decide where several thousand houses could be built with preferred sites across the area for housing, retail and employment developments being defined.

The LDP2 is formally to cover 2013 to 2028, replacing the current adopted Unitary Development Plan which covers 1996-2011. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Previously members of the council’s current ruling administration indicated serious concerns over the LDP, with others unhappy with population models and planned developments. As a result is it not a certainty the plan would pass any Full Council vote.

Should a majority of councillors refuse to back the plan, it is possible it will effectively be enforced by the Welsh Government.

The Inspectors’ Report can be viewed on the Council’s LDP consultation website here.

Paper copies of the Report will also be available to view in all of the Council’s Libraries from Tuesday.