Calls for Welsh government to withdraw from housing plan

Councillors in Wrexham have voted for a motion asking the Welsh government to withdraw the authority's local development plan "as a matter of urgency"

Councillors in Wrexham have called on the Welsh government to withdraw from a controversial housing plan.

The authority was ordered to adopt it by a judge following a judicial review brought by developers after it was twice rejected.

The decision was later dismissed by the Court of Appeal and it said councillors did not have to adopt a local development plan (LDP).

A Welsh government spokesperson said it is "considering options".

LDPs are aimed at guiding decisions on future development proposals, while addressing needs and opportunities specific to each area.

Councillors in Wrexham have voted for a motion asking the Welsh government to withdraw the authority's local development plan "as a matter of urgency".

Councillor Marc Jones said the plan was passed overwhelmingly with 35 for, none against and 12 abstentions.

"We want to work with the government to take this forward now. There are some big contentious issues to sort out, not least the two big key strategic sites on either side of the town.

"If the LDP had been allowed to stand these two sites alone would mean more than 3,100 extra houses.

"This more than anything - along with protecting greenfield sites - has been critical to the opposition that's grown in the community and within the council itself."

The Welsh government said: "We note the request for Welsh ministers to withdraw the emerging Local Development Plan.

"We are in the process of considering options and cannot comment further at this time."