Wrexham Local Development Plan 2013 - 2028 KPD13 housing open space employment community transport education Preferred Strategy Consultation Report of Findings (March 2018) This leafl et is available in accessible formats Contents 1.0. Introduction and Background ...................................................................................... 2 2.0 The Engagement Process ........................................................................................... 2 3.0 Key Findings ................................................................................................................ 4 4.0 Summary of Representations by Question Number .................................................... 7 5.0 Site Register .............................................................................................................. 44 6.0 Alternative Site Submissions – Proposed as a result of the Preferred Strategy Consultation .............................................................................................................. 55 7.0 Unduly made Representations .................................................................................. 55 8.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 55 1 1.0. Introduction and Background 1.1 In accordance with the Regulations, consultation on the Local Development Plan Pre-Deposit documents was carried out for a seven week period between 12 February 2016 and 1 April 2016. The consultation documents were made available at the Contact Centre Wrexham, Redwither Tower, Wrexham Industrial Estate, all public libraries in the County Borough, and on the Council’s website. 1.2 The Preferred Strategy consultation document1 identified the key land use issues for the County Borough that the Plan will seek to address, the Vision for the County Borough up to 2028 together with the aims and objectives to achieve that Vision. Additionally, it also identified a number of strategic growth and spatial options along with the Council’s Preferred Strategy for the future development of the area. 1.3 The Preferred Strategy (February 2016), was accompanied by the following documents: The Sustainability Scoping Report (October 2014) Initial Sustainability Appraisal Report (February 2016) Habitats Regulations Assessment (February 2016) Test of Soundness Self-assessment Report (February 2016) Over 60 associated Topic/Technical background papers and Evidence based documents. 1.4 In addition to these documents, the Council also published the Site Register, together with the initial assessments that have been made of their suitability for development along with their compatibility with the Preferred Strategy. 2.0 The Engagement Process 2.1 In an attempt to engage as wide an audience as possible in the Pre-Deposit public consultation exercise, the Council used a variety of means of communication as outlined in the revised Delivery Agreement (DA). 2.2 The consultation methods used are summarised below: Letters or emails to approximately 7500 consultees (approx. 6000 letters and 1500 emails) on the Local Plan database notifying them of the consultation and where to view the proposals. Letters or emails to all Statutory consultation groups, organisations and forums detailed under B1 to B5 within appendix 1 of the Revised Delivery Agreement (Dec 14) as well as Community Councils, Local Members, Council Departments, members of the public and agents who submitted sites for consideration during the call for sites process in 2012/2013 and 1 http:wrexhamldp.wrexham.gov.uk 2 those who had previously submitted representations as part of the LDP 1 preparation process. In addition, the households and businesses that were within a 50 metre radius of the 2 Key Strategic Sites (KSS) and the preferred Area of Search on WIE were also sent letters notifying them of the consultation and where to view the relevant documents etc. Site notices were also placed around the KSS to inform members of the public who pass by, through or use the KSS, of the consultation and the proposals for the KSS. A Notice was placed within the WCBC Internal Friday Bulletin. A notice was placed in the local ‘Essentials Mag’ magazine which is distributed around Gresford, Marford and Rossett. Seven public exhibition/drop-in sessions of the proposals were arranged at the venues listed in Table 1 below. The table also identifies the number of visitors that attended the sessions. Officers were on hand to discuss the proposals which give Q & A opportunities and advise on how comments on consultation documents could be made. Email notifications being sent out to those who have registered an interest in the Local Development Plan with Directgov (520), a notification facility available through the Council’s website. The Local Service Board and Community Council Forum meetings were attended by Officers from the Planning Policy Team. The consultation event was also advertised on the Local Service Board Consultation Portal ‘Your View Wrexham’. Copies of the documents were made available during normal office hours, for public inspection free of charge at the following locations; Contact Centre Wrexham, Redwither Tower Reception Area, Wrexham Industrial Estate and in all Public Libraries across the Borough. 2.3 The documents were also placed on the Wrexham Local Development Plan consultation Portal which could also be accessed via the “Consultations” section on the front page of the website. 2.4 A response form was made available to help people submit comments. It included a total of 26 questions, specifically about the Preferred Strategy and asked respondents to state whether they agreed or disagreed to the proposals and policies. A further 3 questions sought feedback on either the Initial Sustainability Report (Q.27), the Evidence Base (Q.28) or the Background and Topic Papers (Q.29). Respondents could also decide which questions to answer. Forms could be completed on line, via the consultation portal and submitted in other formats, such as a letter or email were also accepted. 3 Venue Address Date Time Visitor Numbers Rossett & Burton Station Avenue, Tuesday 16th 09.00am 37 Village Hall Rossett, Wrexham, February 2016 – LL12OEH 1.00pm Guildhall, Rhosddu Road, Thursday 18th 09.00am 29 Meeting Room 1 Wrexham, LL11 February 2016 – 1AY 1.00pm Glyn Wylfa Castle Road, Wednesday 3.00pm - 43 Centre Chirk, Wrexham 24th February 7.00pm 2016 Gwersyllt Second Avenue, Wednesday 09.00am 23 Resource Gwersyllt, 2nd March – Centre, Activity Wrexham 2016 1.00pm Room Wrexham Ruthin Road, Tuesday 8th 3.00pm - 23 Council Ruthin Wrexham March 2016 7.00pm Road Offices Pentre Gwyn Abenbury Road, Friday 18th 09.00am 13 Community Wrexham, March 2016 – Centre 1.00pm Overton Village Penyllan Street, Thursday 24th 3.00pm - 70 Hall Overton, March 2016 7.00pm Wrexham, TOTAL 238 Table 1 – Exhibitions/Drop-in sessions 3.0 Key Findings 3.1 A total of 23652 representations were received during the statutory consultation period, 978 on the Preferred Strategy and 1387 on the Site Register. A summary of the representations received on the register is provided in section 5.0 of this report. 3.2 The public consultation generated a wide range of opinions and it was unsurprising that not all of these opinions were compatible with each other. Nevertheless, it has been possible to identify how many respondents supported or disagreed with the different policies/policy approaches and 2 The responses comprise those directly submitted directly online, via email and also comments received in writing. 4 summarise the key issues and comments. A summary of these are set out in the following paragraphs. All comments can be viewed on the Council’s Consultation Portal (www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp) and documents KPD14 and KPD14a provide a summary of all comments received together with WCBC Officer responses. 3.3 Table 2 below identifies the representations made on the Preferred Strategy by consultee type. A summary of the key issues raised through the public consultation on the Preferred Strategy is set out in section 4.0 below, in the order of questions as they appeared in the Preferred Strategy consultation document. Matters to be addressed by the Deposit Plan as a result of representations received is also included at the end of each section. Comments received on the site register are contained in section 5.0 of this report and information regarding the alternative sites submitted is contained in section 6.0. Consultee Type Number Category of (LDP represent manual) ations B1 Agents/Consultants 18 B1 Developers/Housebuilders/Housing 147 Associations B1 General Public 464 B2 Community Councils 142 B1 Local Members 28 B1 Organisations 10 B2 Local Health Board Betsi Cadwaladr 20 B2 Adjoining LA's (Denbighshire and 6 Flintshire) B2 NRW 11 B2 Utility Providers and Statutory 7 Undertakers (Welsh Water and United Utilities) B2 Welsh Government (Plans Branch) 16 B5 Other (Royal Mail)Tarmac Trading 7 B5 Other Environmental Groups (CPAT, 23 Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Joint Committee) B5 Local Community, Conservation & 28 Amenity Groups B5 Other National/Local Organisations 20 (Canal and River Trust, Coal Authority) B1 Internal WCBC (Play Development Co- 31 ordinator) TOTAL 978 TABLE 2: LDP Preferred Strategy consultation – no of representations by consultee type 5 Alternative Site Submissions – Proposed as a result of the Preferred Strategy Consultation 3.4 The Town and Country Planning (Local Development Plan) (Wales) (Amendment)