A HOUSING development has been given the go-ahead for an ‘eyesore’ patch of land in a village on the outskirts of Wrexham.

Councillors have approved plans for up to five new homes off Afoneitha Road in Penycae, despite the site being in the green barrier.

Previous applications in the same location were rejected in both 2004 and 2013 and appeals which followed the refusals were dismissed.

However, Penycae councillor John Phillips said there was a need for housing in the area.

Speaking at a planning committee meeting at Wrexham Guildhall, he said: “I would normally not support this. However I’ve lived in Penycae all my life and this particular plot of land has been derelict for goodness knows how long.

“It’s an eyesore and I think this a perfect opportunity to develop this area and give Penycae some extra houses at the same time.

“The land in question is outside the settlement boundary and lies within the green barrier.

“That said, the area is virtually barren where the ground was made up of compressed stone and cement from the adjacent development that took place several years ago.”

Lawrence Isted, the authority’s head of planning, said the requirement for more than 8,500 houses to be built in the county as part of its Local Development Plan (LDP) should also be taken into consideration.

The plan, which outlines a number of green barrier areas for development, was controversially approved for submission to Welsh Government in recent weeks in the face of strong objections.

Mr Isted’s rationale for approval was challenged though by Cllr Marc Jones, the committee’s vice-chair.

He said: “The LDP hasn’t been adopted yet and we’re being asked to accept the housing targets in the LDP to justify this.

“At the same time we’re saying the green wedge, which will be part of the LDP, should not be applied.

“Having said that, the site is barren. The site is actually, I would argue, within the understood limits of Penycae, even if it’s not within settlement.

“As such I’m happy to support the local member, but I do feel our rationale for arguing for this is flawed, as is the LDP as a whole.”

Cllr Bryan Apsley moved for the plans to be rejected on the grounds that they failed to comply with three different planning policies.

However, his motion was defeated by a majority vote and the scheme was approved.