EXTRA homes look set to be built on a Wrexham gym car park, despite concerns about over-development.

Plans to create six new houses on land next to Total Fitness in Rhosddu have been recommended for approval by council officers.

However, the car park has already had 24 houses built on it in recent years and a number of objections have been received about traffic congestion and the impact of the proposals on the viability of the fitness centre.

Local councillor and planning committee vice-chairman Marc Jones said he felt the latest plans represented ‘piecemeal development’ of the site, “especially as it appears to be a deliberate attempt to avoid an affordable homes commitment".

“I understand the developer of the latest batch of housing has had to include an affordable housing component in the development, which is only right.

“I have also raised concerns about the ongoing viability of the fitness centre on site but have been assured that this latest development of six houses would not affect overall viability of the business.

“The potential to see overspill parking from the fitness centre outside the new homes remains a concern.”

Despite the concerns raised, Wrexham Council’s head of environment and planning has recommended the plans for approval.

In a report Lawrence Isted said he did not feel the proposals would harm road safety or the amount of parking at the gym.

He also recommended that the authority should enter a section 106 agreement with the developers, requiring them to make a financial contribution towards Rhosddu Primary School and upgrades to Rhosddu Road play area.

He said: “I understand the concerns about traffic generation given that the Stansty Road/New Road is very busy at peak times. However Highways have not expressed concerns about this matter.

“Given the scale of the development it is unlikely to increase traffic to the extent of causing significant additional congestion at peak times or a danger to highway safety.

“The proposed development will result in the loss of 20 parking spaces in total.

“However this loss will be off-set by the provision of 20 new parking spaces on landscaped ground between the existing car park and the boundaries of dwellings to the east.”

The proposals will be discussed by members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee on Monday.