Wrexham construction firm hits out at council plans to increase money given to schools by developers

Wrexham Council has been consulting on proposals to update its planning guidance on how much home builders should provide for education facilities.

The local authority said it had found itself under ‘increasing financial pressure’ to meet the need for extra places in schools as a result of new builds.

Developments of two-bedroom apartments or houses would pay a lower rate than before, but there is a significant increase in the level of contribution for properties with three bedrooms or more.

However, DMR North Wales Ltd claims it will create barriers for small firms and damage the local economy.

In a letter a representative for the company said: “I think this is a poor idea and that it has been proposed for obvious reasons that over-simplify the issues.

“It will create more barriers to entry for small local developers in Wrexham and will hand yet more of an advantage to the large, national builders.

“This means more jobs going outside of Wrexham, damaging the local economy and thus prosperity.

“Due to the depressed market in the Wrexham area, it is already difficult to build and sell at a profit.

“This proposal will make that even more difficult and will result in less homes being built, which runs contrary to the national requirement to build more home more quickly.”

Earlier this week, the authority’s education department came under fire for repeatedly failing to indicate whether housing developers should be providing money for schools.

The existing guidance note on contributions was created in 2004 and the council said it needed updating in light of the latest census statistics.

It estimates a development of 100 three-bedroom houses produces about 23 primary age pupils and 20 secondary age pupils.

Under new proposals, developments generating 100 pupils and above may need to provide financial support towards creating a new school.

The executive board is being asked to back the new guidance.