COUNCILLORS could approve an outline application for the development of up to 455 new homes in Wrexham when they meet next week.

The council's planning committee will discuss the proposals, by Russell Homes (UK) Ltd, on land near Gwersyllt.

A report into the plans says that approval for access is sought at this stage, and that the proposed accesses would be directly off the A541 Mold Road and Stansty Chain Road.

It added: “Matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale are reserved for subsequent consideration.”

The site is located within the settlement limit, according to the report, and is allocated for residential development in the Local Development Plan (LDP) which was recently adopted by the council after two previous rejections and a Judicial Review.

The report also said that the proposed development would “deliver up to 113 affordable units”.

The plans have been met with opposition, with a petition objecting to the plans getting 193 signatures.

Cllr Marc Jones, who is a member for an adjoining ward, objected to the plans, and in the report detailed concerns he raised about highway safety, pollution, impact on infrastructure, and in particular schools, urban sprawl, and the development being situated on a “green wedge”.

He also raised concerns about housing need, saying that there is a “fundamental flaw in the current allocation of land for housing”.

The local community council and nearby Rhosddu Community Council also raised objections.

The Highway officer raised no objections to the proposals, saying that there would be a “negligible effect upon the A483 trunk road roundabout”. Officers in other departments like conservation, ecology, and public protection also raised no objections.

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The Education Department said that there is “insufficient primary and secondary school provision” nearby and recommended that financial contributions “be secured towards additional primary school provision and towards a project to deliver additional English medium education and Ysgol Bryn Alyn.”

The Health Board raised no objections but also expressed “significant concerns about the sustainability of local Primary Care services” relating to physical space available in current facilities and clinical staff concerns. They did however confirm that financial contributions would not be sought.

The report concluded: “The site is allocated for housing in the LDP and therefore the principle of development is acceptable. Subject to appropriate mitigation and detailing which could be secured by conditions along with the execution of a Planning Obligation, it is considered that residential development at the application site need not give rise to undue highway safety, ecology, noise, air quality or residential amenity concerns. It therefore accords with the relevant LDP policies outlined within this report.”