Approval likely for additional homes at ‘The Poppies’ development, Wrexham

Planning officers will recommend Wrexham councillors approve a proposal to add more houses to a Llay development despite community objections.

SG Estates is already building 50 new homes – a development known as ‘The Poppies’ on land formerly part of Llay Royal British Legion. To complement the development it also had plans for a retail development to provide local shops to serve the community on the field directly behind the Legion.

Now however the developer has submitted a new application to build nine additional homes instead.

When Wrexham County Borough Council’s Planning Committee meets on Monday, councillors will have to decide whether to go along with the officers’ recommendation and approve the plan or to reject it.

Despite Wrexham Council’s recent vote against using the unadopted Local Development Plan as a material consideration, planning officers have in this case.

In the report of the Chief Officer for Economy and Planning recommending approval it said: “The identification of the housing sites (across Wrexham) was based on a robust and rational site selection process.

“The policies and requirements for the housing allocations are clear, reasonable and sufficient. The allocated housing sites will thus enable the provision of the housing requirement.”

Within Llay there has already been opposition to the proposal.

Councillor Bryan Apsley has raised concerns around the impact on Llay Royal British Legion.

According to his submission to planners, the current development is already having an impact on trade. He claims work vehicles are taking up on average 12 car park spaces per day, reducing footfall.

He also claimed residents of Watts Dyke, Llay New Road, Ffordd Madoc,
Penderyn Way and Tryweryn Close have been negatively affected by the current works – and that problems will be exacerbated by further development.

Cllr Rob Walsh added: “This will add further pressure on the community`s health provision that is already stretched. Llay is already in the process of having 400+ extra houses built.

“The cancellation of plans for a retail unit will mean there will be less
parking around the Llay British Legion site increasing the risk of parking on
Watt’s Dyke. Although there are double yellow lines this may not be
enforced say on a weekend or at night to the satisfaction of local
residents.

“The lack of a retail unit will mean there will be no shop or equivalent in the southern part of Llay. That will mean more residents who wish to access retail facilities on foot will have to cross an increasingly busy road. Whilst there are two zebra crossings further up Llay New Road there are no longer suitable for the volume of traffic now experienced.

“Llay New Road desperately needs a controlled crossing near to the Llay Legion site or possibly further south towards Alyn Waters.”

Those concerns were echoed by Llay Community Council, which has also opposed the plans.

Wrexham Council’s planning committee will meet to discuss the application on Monday, September 1.