Attempt to reverse refusal of plans for 18 houses in Rossett fails

Wrexham Council rejected two applications to convert barns at Broad Oak Farm on Llyndir Lane into homes last year.

It came after concerns were raised that the buildings were not suitable for conversion, as well as regarding the impact on the surrounding countryside.

It led to Shaun Trowbridge, who is behind the proposals, launching an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

In the appeal documents, agents acting on his behalf said the properties would provide ‘much-needed’ smaller accommodation.

However, planning inspector Alwyn Nixon has now outlined his decision to dismiss the appeal as he said the development would have a damaging impact on the appearance of the area.

He said: “Having taken into account all matters raised, I have concluded that the proposals for Site 1 are unacceptable, primarily because of the detailed proposals concerning building D.

“The proposals for Site 2 must also fail due to the shortcomings presented by the proposals for buildings E, F and G.

“Overall, the combined proposals for 18 residential units would have an unduly urbanising effect in this open countryside location, harmful to the character and appearance of the area and inappropriate to its rural context.

“In both cases the proposals would conflict with policies H3 and GDP1 of the adopted development plan.

“In addition, in the case of Site 2 insufficient information has been provided to enable an appropriate assessment of the scheme’s implications for the favourable conservation status of protected bat species.”

The farm where the properties were set to be based stopped trading in 2001 following the decline of British pig farming during the 1990s.

Since the refusal of the original plans, a fresh scaled back application has been submitted to turn the barns into 10 houses, which is still under consideration by the local authority.

It includes six two-bedroom properties, three with four bedrooms and one with three bedrooms.

In a statement, Mr Trowbridge said: “A series of applications have been submitted for residential development on the site over a number of years, the most recent of which was two applications for a combined development of 18 units.

“This application represents a resubmission for a reduced number of units and is submitted as one planning application across the whole site.

“It is important that positive action takes place to ensure the site is reused in a productive manner, to the benefit of the environment and wider community, before further deterioration occurs.

“It is considered that residential is the only viable alternative use to enable the redevelopment of the farm to take place.”

The revised proposals will be considered by the council at a future date.