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Welcome

Building better neighbourhoods and stronger communities

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website regarding Harworth Group’s proposals for a landscape-led residential development on Erlas Park in Wrexham.

The site, located to the east of Cefn Road and south of Bryn Estyn Road, forms part of the wider Cefn Road allocation in the Council’s emerging Local Development Plan, and has been identified for up to 1,680 new homes. Harworth Group is bringing forward proposals to provide up to 1,080 on the southern parcel of this land and is now preparing plans for the first phase of the development.

The outline planning application will establish the principle of development on the site and proposes up to 425 new homes, including 86 affordable properties to respond to local housing needs. The scheme will also deliver extensive green spaces for existing and future residents, as well as recreational opportunities. This will include retaining trees and hedgerows, enhanced through surrounding open space and green linkages, with the potential to provide a community orchard and/or allotments.

We want to work with the local community to develop our plans and want to hear your views on the initial proposals. What do you think of the draft illustrative masterplan? What do you like about the plans? How can the plans be improved? What issues do you think need to be considered? Would you benefit from improvements to local road junctions? What type of homes are needed? What would you like to see included within the scheme?

This website has been created to allow the local community to view the plans in more detail, as well as submit their ideas via the online feedback form

You can also register to attend one of our two webinars by clicking on the links below:


Our project team will make a presentation on the proposed plans, followed by a Question and Answer session

Your views are very important to us as we want to ensure that our proposals are delivered in the right way so they can deliver the right benefits for Wrexham. 

Please take the time to look around the website to learn more about the plans and ensure your feedback help shapes the plans before an application is submitted to the Council.

Housing Need

The UK is facing a housing crisis, with a chronic shortage of new homes. Quite simply, not enough homes are being built and supply is much lower than the Government’s ambition for 300,000 houses every year. Recent research also suggests that the average first time-buyer is now 34 years old – an increase of two years during the pandemic1.

 

But if new homes aren’t built, this can negatively impact the local area. It can deter working people with new skills from moving into new areas, causing the age and the ability of the local workforce to stagnate, as well as forcing existing companies to relocate. New homes can also deliver knock-on economic benefits for local businesses by new residents spending in local shops and using local services in the areas where new homes are built.

Wrexham’s housing need

Wrexham needs new homes. As part of its emerging Local Development Plan, which guides future development in the Borough, the Council has outlined a requirement of 8,000 new homes across the Borough.

The Local Development Plan is expected to be adopted this year, but has suffered from significant delays. Most recently, the delay relates to targets to reduce phosphate pollution levels in Welsh rivers. Consequently, these delays provide the Council just six years to deliver its 15-year housing target before the Plan expires.

However, new homes in Erlas Park will help the Council to meet its housing needs by developing a site which has already been identified as being able to provide housing for local people. The site, as part of the wider Cefn Road allocation, is expected to provide 1,680 new homes, with Harworth Group proposing up to 1,080 on the southern parcel of this land. The outline application being brought forward is for the first phase of development that proposes up to 425 new homes.

Until the Local Development Plan is formally adopted, greenfield sites across the Borough are at risk of speculative development which would prove difficult to fight at appeal. By developing sites that the Council has already identified as being suitable to respond to Wrexham’s housing needs, this will protect other sites across the Borough from speculative development.

We are confident that the site in Erlas Park is the right location to meet existing and future housing needs. But we want to ensure it is the right type of development. Delivered in the right way. And offering the right benefits for the local community.

If you are interested in a new home in Erlas Park, please click the button in the menu bar.

The Proposals

A tailored approach

Harworth Group is committed to engaging with local communities and working together at the start of the planning process. Listening to local people is at the heart of developing our plans, allowing us to understand what is really important to the local area and delivering a scheme that creates a sense of place, whilst ensuring our developments are integrated with the existing community.

We have prepared a draft illustrative masterplan that encompasses our vision for Erlas Park – a landscape-led residential development. Not only does this ensure that the first phase of the development can deliver much needed new homes, but also an exemplary designed scheme that will complement and enhance the local area. 

Our proposals will:

  • Provide a landscape-led residential development that has been carefully designed with the local community in mind, offering public open space and opportunities for recreational activities;
  • Deliver 425 high quality, sustainable new homes in a variety of styles and sizes to meet the needs of local people;
  • Offer 86 (20%) affordable homes which could help families in the area currently struggling to secure a safe and stable home, as well as first time buyers and key workers;
  • Deliver much-needed new homes on a site which has been identified as suitable for housing by the Council, thus preventing speculative development;
  • Deliver highway improvements to the A534 / A5156 roundabout and laying the ground work for a new link road between Cefn Road and Holt Road / A5156 roundabout;
  • Offer a sustainable residential development that capitalises on the site’s proximity to local shops and services by promoting pedestrian and cycle links;
  • Provide a sustainable development that utilises renewable energy sources, as well as low-carbon construction materials and methods;
  • Retain the existing trees and hedgerows, where possible, and incorporate them into green travel corridors throughout the site;
  • Create around 130 jobs during construction, including opportunities for apprenticeships, and a further 120 via the local supply chain;
  • Provide additional local expenditure of over £3million per year as residents move to the area;
  • Deliver additional council tax payments, with an estimated £1million per year, that the Authority can spend on local services.

The Erlas Park site is well located to deliver both the homes that Wrexham needs and a range of benefits to the local community. To find out how the plans have evolved based on the technical assessments undertaken, please click here.

Site Considerations

A considered approach

The initial proposals have evolved based technical assessment undertaken to ensure the plans for Erlas Park deliver a sustainable development that meets the aspirations of the Borough. You can find out more about each aspect that has been considered by reviewing the information provided below.  

Design

Designing new homes is about much more than just bricks and mortar. It is about designing a community. A neighbourhood. A place people can call home. Extensive technical work has been undertaken to inform the design principles and planning parameters for the development to establish a clear framework for detailed design moving forward.

This is shown on the parameters plan which can be viewed here and has been used to inform the illustrative layout for Phase 1 which is available here. Further information about how the plans have developed can be found in the Design & Access Statement here which sets out the vision for Erlas Park; a high-quality, sustainable, landscape-led residential development.   

Planning

The site has been identified by Wrexham County Borough Council’s emerging Local Development Plan as suitable to deliver much-needed new homes. As part of the wider Cefn Road allocation, Harworth Group proposes up to 1,080 on the southern parcel of the land, with the outline application for the first phase of development proposing up to 425 new homes.

A Planning Statement has been prepared which demonstrates the need for residential development in Erlas Park, as well as how Harworth Group’s plans accord with relevant national, regional and local planning policies. You can view the Planning Statement here.

Trees, Hedgerows & Landscaping

The plans for Erlas Park will be a landscape-led residential development and extensive consideration has been given to ensure the landscape strategy identifies, retains and protects valued features, elements and attributes of the site, where possible. This will include retaining trees and hedgerows, enhanced through surrounding open space and green linkages.

The Public Open Space requirement will exceed standards, with a community orchard and/or allotments, formal and informal leisure and recreation play spaces. You can read more about the approach taken in the Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment that can be viewed here, whilst details of how existing trees and hedgerows have been considered can be found in the Arboricultural Impact Assessment here.

Ecology

A key aspect of preparing the plans for Erlas Park was to assess existing species and habitats, with an Ecological Survey having been undertaken. In preparing the plans, Harworth Group has ensured that the green infrastructure strategy has been designed to maintain connectivity of habitats by retaining existing features, such as hedgerows, as well as creating and strengthening connections to existing ponds and woodlands. This will also help to mitigate impacts on wildlife, such as bats, birds and badgers. To view the Ecological Assessment, please click here.

Traffic & Highways

The site is well connected and the sustainable nature of it has already been established through the Local Development Plan site allocation process. Vehicular access will be taken from along Cefn Road. This includes a ghost island right turn lane and pedestrian islands to provide safe access to bus stops and amenities. There are several bus routes that frequent nearby roads, such as the 5 and 35 on Styrt Holt and the 8 on Sutton Drive / Hullah Lane.

It is envisaged that the spine road which will run through the site would present a fantastic opportunity for a new / rerouted bus route and Harworth Group would work with the bus operators to achieve this. This road will also connect the site to the land south of Holt Road at later stages of development. Further information can be found in the Transport Assessment available here and the Travel Plan here which promotes suitable travel locally.

Sustainability

Erlas Park will be a highly sustainable development which capitalises on the site’s close proximity to a range of local facilities, such as shops, services and schools. In addition to encouraging the use of public transportation, cycling and walking, a Sustainability Statement has been prepared that focuses on energy improvements, reduced water use, waste management and efficient use of non-renewable material resources, as well as the preservation and increase of ecology and biodiversity assets.

To find out more about how the scheme will create a vibrant and sustainable community in line with national and local policy commitments, please view the Sustainability Statement available here.

Flood Risk & Drainage

The site is located within Flood Zone 1, which is the lowest level of risk. There are several existing ponds on the site which have been incorporated into the Drainage Strategy and will provide habitats to maintain biodiversity at the site.

The Drainage Strategy, which is available here, proposes that surface water is collected via rainwater pipes, porous paving, channels and gullies which are drained into infiltration basins. The layout proposes several landscaped areas, allowing the development to be divided into three catchment areas, each being served by an infiltration basin to ensure site drainage.

Archaeology & Heritage

An Archaeological & Heritage Desk Based Assessment and Heritage Impact Assessment have been undertaken to identify archaeological and built heritage assets, as well as assess their importance and impact from the proposed development.

To find out more, please view the Archaeological & Heritage Desk Based Assessment here and the Heritage Impact Assessment which can be downloaded here.

Ground Conditions & Minerals

A Minerals Safeguarding & Prior Extraction Assessment have identified that the site is located within an area defined as ‘Protection of Mineral Resources’ by the Council (Proposals Map of the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan, 2005). It is understood that the site is mainly overlain Devensian Glaciofluvial Sheet Deposits which comprise sand and gravel.

These reports can be viewed here and here. Further details regarding the conditions of the site can be found in the Ground Condition Desk Study Report which can be downloaded by clicking here.

Air Quality  

An Air Quality Report has assessed the potential impact on air quality due to the construction and operation of new homes on land to the east of Cefn Road. The report, which can be viewed here, concluded that mitigation measures will need to be adopted during construction of the new homes to ensure dust does not have a detrimental impact on people residing locally. Harworth Group is committed to being a good neighbour and would ensure considerate construction measures.

You can view all of the draft planning documents for this proposal by clicking the button below.

Virtual Exhibition

Welcome to our virtual exhibition. Below, you can click and drag anywhere in the room to navigate around the room. To view the exhibition boards, please click on the green numbers.

Have Your Say

The consultation for the Erlas Park residential scheme has now ended. Thank you to everyone that has engaged with us during this period. Your feedback has been logged and will be factored into a Pre-Application Consultation report that will be submitted alongside the planning application.

Tell us what you think. We want to know. We are here to listen.

Thank you for taking the time to look at our proposals for Erlas Park in Wrexham.

Harworth Group is committed to listening to local people as the plans development and this public consultation provides an opportunity for the community to have their say. We would welcome all feedback from those interested in helping to shape the future of the local community before we submit our outline planning application to Wrexham County Borough Council.  

Calling our community information line

0333 358 0502 (Monday to Friday – 9.00am to 5.30pm)

Emailing us with your comments, questions or feedback

erlasparkconsultation@havingyoursay.co.uk

Completing a feedback form further down this page

Registering to participate in one of our webinars

Thursday, 26th May (6.30pm) and Tuesday, 7th June (1pm). Register by clicking the dates in the welcome section of the site.

We look forward to hearing from you, but please ensure all feedback is provided by Wednesday 15th June 2022 to make sure your comments can be taken into consideration in the final plans.   

Let us know your views and be part of shaping Wrexham’s future!

Data protection: We hold all personal data as per General Data Protect Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 and your personal data will not be transferred outside of its jurisdiction. If you would like to make a GDPR request, please contact Lexington on 0207 025 2300. You can review our privacy policy here.

About Us - Harworth Group

Transform. Regenerate. Revitalise.

Harworth Group plc is one of the leading land and property regeneration companies in the UK, owning and managing approximately 14,000 acres on around 100 sites in the North of England and the Midlands.

We create sustainable places for people to live and work, delivering thousands of new jobs and homes in the regions.

Our flagship sites, such as Waverley in Rotherham and Logistics North in Bolton, are of national economic significance and are at the forefront of regeneration in the UK.

Click here to find out more information about our values, our approach and our people.

Register Your Interest

If you are interested in a new home in Erlas Park, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please register your interest below and Harworth Group will keep you updated as the plans progress.

Please use the space below to let us know what type of property you would be interested in and the details of your requirements, such as the type of house and number of bedrooms.

The information you provide will only be used for the purpose of this scheme. The data will be held securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and General Data Protection Regulation.