The Wrexham Council Planning Committee met to discuss several development management applications, including proposals for new dwellings and a change of use for a former police station. Councillors voted to grant permission for the erection of nine dwellings at British Legion Social Club, Watts Dyke in Llay, and for the change of use of the former Gresford Police Station from a nursery to a community facility. The committee also voted to grant permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling and erection of a replacement dwelling at Park View, Gatewen Farm Road, New Broughton.

British Legion Social Club, Watts Dyke, Llay

Councillors voted to grant planning permission for the erection of nine dwellings and formation of a vehicular access at British Legion Social Club, Watts Dyke, Llay, Wrexham, LL12 0RL. This was subject to the completion of a Modification Order under Section 97 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to modify planning permission Ref. P/2008/1063 and reserved matters approval P/2007/0646 to omit four plots from the planning permission, and the completion of a Planning Obligation under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure financial contributions to primary and secondary education provision, financial contributions towards off-site public open space provision, and affordable housing.

The planning officer's report noted that the site is within a defined settlement limit, and occupies part of the Royal British Legion (RBL). It is not unallocated for any specific use or development in the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP). Policy H2 of the UDP permits residential development on unallocated sites within defined settlement limits, subject to compliance with policy GDP1. The report also noted that the whole of the RBL site is identified as being allocated site residential development in the unadopted Local Development Plan (unadopted LDP).

The Community Council had raised concerns that:

The amenity for residents of Watts Dyke, Llay New Road, Ffordd Madoc, Penderyn Way, and Treweryn Close have been badly affected by current development, and it will be exacerbated by further development.

Councillor Bryan Apsley, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, requested the application be reported to the Planning Committee and raised concerns that:

The developers/ contractors are affecting the Legion's customers by parking in the Legion's car spaces (an average of 12 per day).

Councillor Rob Walsh raised concerns that:

Although only 9 properties this will add further pressure on the community`s health provision that is already stretched. Llay has already/in the process of having 400+ extra houses.

Natural Resources Wales advised that inadequate information had been submitted regarding foul drainage, and recommended consideration is given to whether the development would increase the volume of foul water discharged from the site and if the development is likely to have a significant effect on the River Dee and Bala Lake Special Area of Conservation¹.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water raised no objection, confirming that there is capacity within the public sewer network to receive domestic foul flows from the development and that Gresford Wastewater Treatment Works has a phosphate permit.

The Highway Officer raised no objection, commenting that the traffic onto Watts Dyke, an estate road serving over 200 dwellings, would be less than a 5% increase.

The Ecology Officer raised no objection, but recommended amendments to the proposed landscaping scheme to include native species hedgerow planting and some larger trees. They also recommended further details are required regarding proposed nest boxes and advises that at least 75% of the dwellings should have integral nesting boxes.

The Public Protection Officer commented that the Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) has assessed the noise impact of traffic on Llay New Road and from the neighbouring licensed premises. Road traffic noise was determined to fall within Noise Exposure Category (NEC) B during the daytime and NEC C during the night time.

Police Station, 76 Chester Road, Gresford

Councillors voted to grant planning permission for the change of use of the former police station at 76 Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham, LL12 8NT from Class D1 (nursery) to Class D2 (community facility) including an ancillary coffee shop.

The planning officer's report noted that the site is located within the defined settlement limit of Gresford. UDP Policies PS1, GDP1, E4, EC6, EC13 and T8 are applicable, as is Local Planning Guidance Note No. 16 (Parking Standards).

The Community Council commented that some residents have raised concerns about parking, and requested that the Council's Highway Officer is consulted about the change of use, the parking provision and parking on the roads and streets close by. The Local Member objected due to highway concerns.

The Public Protection Officer raised no objections, and recommended Advisory Notes are added to the Decision Notice in relation to noise and pollution. They commented that one noise complaint was received on 05/02/2025 in relation to music coming from the application site, however, no substantiating information was subsequently provided by the complainant and the complaint was subsequently closed without action. They confirmed that no other complaints have been received in relation to the use of the application site.

Welsh Water confirmed that capacity exists within the public sewerage network to receive foul only flows from the site, and recommended that a condition be imposed regarding surface water.

NRW raised no objections, commenting that the development is unlikely to increase the amount of phosphorus entering the SAC catchment and therefore would not have a significant effect on the River Dee and Bala Lake SAC.

The Highway Officer raised no objections subject to conditions, commenting that:

Based on the proposed floor area, LPGN16 requires a maximum of 10 spaces. The submitted plan indicates the existing 10 standard spaces will be retained.

They also noted that none of the proposed spaces cater for mobility / disabled needs, and that it is considered likely that the proposed change of use from a nursery to the proposed community facility with ancillary café could have a similar daily traffic generation to the previous day nursery but with daily movements spread out over the course of the day.

21 letters of support were received, commenting on what an amazing addition to the village of Gresford the facility is, and 22 letters of objection were received commenting on matters such as insufficient on-site parking resulting in indiscriminate parking in the nearby streets, and that the noise levels from the children playing and from the adults talking whilst sitting having drinks etc. outside is unacceptable.

Park View, Gatewen Farm Road, New Broughton

Councillors voted to grant planning permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling and erection of a replacement dwelling at Park View, Gatewen Farm Road, New Broughton, Wrexham, LL11 6YA.

The planning officer's report noted that the application site is located on a private driveway approximately 100m to the north of Gatewen Road, New Broughton. The dwellings of Oakfield Court lie approximately 75m to the north. The site is adjacent to a range of substantial outbuildings formerly associated with Gatwen Hall that have been converted to dwellings (Fair View, The Hay Barn and The Hay Loft). Gatewen Hall itself is approximately 40 metres to the east of the application site.

The site is also located in a Green Barrier as defined by the UDP, which is analogous to Green Wedges described in PPW12².

3 objections were received raising concerns such as the site not being within the settlement boundary for Broughton, being within open countryside and green wedge, and concerns regarding overlooking, overbearing and overshadowing effects to neighbouring properties and gardens.

The Conservation Officer raised no objections, commenting that whilst the building would be seen in conjunction with the listed building and does form part of its setting, the positioning and quality of the existing dwelling means it does not contribute to the significance of the listed building.

The Ecology Officer raised no objection subject to suitably worded conditions to limit vegetation clearance to outside of the bird nesting season and to secure the implementation of a planting scheme and Landscape Management Plan.

The Arboricultural Officer raised no objection in principle, however raised two points of concern, advising that a row of Category A Sycamore trees that lie to the south of the application site will have a significant influence on natural light levels entering the southern elevation of the proposed dwelling and the fact the trees will cast significant shade across the dwelling.

Planning Appeal - Land South of Holt Road, Wrexham

The Chief Officer Economy and Planning submitted a report to outline the significant changes in circumstances since the Planning Committee agreed in 2024 to withdraw the reasons it had previously given for refusing outline planning permission in 2020 following the adoption of the Wrexham Local Development Plan (LDP), and to seek agreement from Members on the recommendations set out in the report in connection with the forthcoming planning appeal for land south of Holt Road.

Councillors voted to re-instate the reasons for refusal no. 1 and 2 from 27 July 2020 in an amended form:

(1) The proposed development lies outside the settlement limit and within a designated green barrier. To allow the development would be contrary to policies PS1, EC1, EC2, H5, MW9, of the adopted Wrexham Unitary Development Plan.

(2) The proposal has failed to justify the loss of BMV agricultural land and therefore does not accord with paragraphs 3.58 and 3.59 of PPW12.

Councillors also voted that Councillor Marc Jones, Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group, be nominated to act as the Council's Expert Witness with Officer support, subject to ongoing efforts to appoint external consultants yield no expressions of interest.

Members were reminded that they were being asked to consider the original reasons for refusing the application which had been made in accordance with the UDP.

There was frustration and disappointment that the Health Board had not provided any response to the application, particularly given the impact that 600 new houses would have on local health services.

Delegated Decisions

The Chief Officer Economy and Planning submitted a list of delegated decisions for the period 1 May to 31 May 2025. The list of Delegated Decisions was noted.