A HOTEL could become just one part of a blueprint to breath new life into one of Wrexham’s most deprived communities.
At their meeting today members of the council’s executive board will be asked to approve a masterplan for the development of the massive former Air Products site at Acrefair.
A report from head of community, wellbeing and development, Lawrence Isted, says the vast eight-acre area presents a “significant development opportunity in one of the county borough’s most deprived communities”.
Drawn up following consultations with community leaders and other interested groups, the 33-page planning brief sets out the framework for how the site should be developed.
It says the site, which lies either side of the A539 road, is at the heart of Acrefair, and should be a key location and catalyst for the wider renewal of the village and surrounding area.
The brief adds: “It shall utilise the existing qualities of the site and exploit the growing leisure and cultural interest in the Llangollen Valley, being a gateway and springboard into the Dee valley and beyond to Snowdonia.
“The site shall provide opportunities for leisure, recreation, active sports, play, retailing, jobs and a choice of housing and shall be an integral part of the village, seamlessly sitting within the landscape and townscape and providing a positive contribution towards the whole area.”
Planning chiefs say the range of commercial and employment uses which would be acceptable on the site include a hotel and a pub restaurant.
Also schemes welcome would be a gym, a creche/day care centre a community centre, medical and health services or extra care care sheltered accommodation.
The brief also sets out a requirement for 200 new houses, about 50-60 of which would be affordable homes.
Developers of the new homes would be required to make a cash contribution towards local schools.
Cefn Mawr councillor Warren Coleman, who represents the Acrefair area, said: “If we got a hotel on the site I would be very pleased. Hotels are labour intensive and would create a lot of jobs.
“One of the main things about a hotel is accessibility and within a mile visitors could be off the motorway network and on this site.”