PLANS to transform the site which housed the Hightown flats are to go ahead.
Wrexham Council’s planning committee granted approval to proposals by the Wales and West Housing Association for the creation of 92 new homes on the site, where the flats have been demolished.
The development will cater for a mixture of houses and flats off Kingsmills Road, Hightown.
The decision comes after the authority opted to demolish the buildings to make way for affordable housing, rather than face paying out £17.5 million on a major facelift for the flats.
Cllr Alun Jenkins, a member of Offa Community Council, described the development as “very positive”.
He told the meeting: “I welcome the redevelopment of the site.
“The community council is very supportive of this application.”
Cllr Jenkins added he had some concerns over the possibility of limited space existing for a new community centre to be housed on the site, with the current centre to be demolished as part of the application.
The report presented to members states the community resource centre is intended to be relocated from the southern end of the site to the northern-most end as part of a separate planning application, with the current facility not to be demolished until the replacement has been provided.
The proposed development is predominantly made up of houses and apartments, along with two bungalows.
It also contains plans for highway improvements along Nelson Street, including street widening and the provision of 12 on-street parking bays for residents, and an improved cycleway and pedestrian link along the Kingsmills Road frontage.
Officers recommended approval was granted, subject to conditions.
A report presented to members said: “The site was previously occupied by high density housing (predominantly flats) that were in a poor structural condition and requiring prohibitively expensive refurbishment work.”
Outline permission for the development was granted in October 2010, with the full application being made last November.
Speaking late last year, Anne Hinchey, chief executive of Wales and West, said: “We are really excited about this development which will provide some very much needed high quality, affordable housing for Wrexham as well as a new community facility.
“Our partnership with Wrexham Council is strong and productive and we were delighted so many local people attended our community consultation event in August to share with us their views and hopes for the area.”