PLANS to build houses next to a garden centre in Wrexham have been rejected for a second time.

The owners of Ferndale Garden Centre in Caego submitted revised proposals to create eight new homes on land by Ferndale Garden Centre in Caego in February.

It came after Wrexham Council’s planning committee denied permission for a similar scheme in September last year.

The owners had hoped the new application would address previous concerns about access for drivers entering the site off Berse Road.

However, most politicians backed advice given by officers that the plans were unacceptable because of the proposed houses being located on green barrier land.

Addressing councillors on the reason for refusal, planning officer David Williams said: “Quite clearly it falls in the green barrier, it’s contrary to our own local plan policies and it’s contrary to Planning Policy Wales.

“I believe it’s a fundamental reason to justify refusing planning permission.

“Clearly, as a committee I would hope you would be consistent.

“There are no changes in circumstances and we drew the same conclusion previously.”

Some councillors questioned whether the land should be classed as a brownfield site instead of green barrier because of the number of buildings already on the site.

They also expressed concerns that the owners of the garden centre could launch an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Cllr Mike Dixon (Ind) said: “It’s with some trepidation that from the point of view of consistency I voted against the officer’s recommendation last time.

“Notwithstanding what you said David, I wasn’t as exorcised by the amount of modest development by residential property with good access and everything else.

“I will be consistent again on this occasion.”

But the majority of the committee voted eleven to two in favour of the officer’s recommendation to refuse the plans.