AN APPEAL has been launched after plans to build houses next to a garden centre in Wrexham were refused on two separate occasions.

The owners of Ferndale Garden Centre in Caego have had two planning applications turned down by Wrexham Council’s planning committee.

Most recently, a scheme to build eight new homes on nearby land was rejected in May amid concerns about the site being located on green barrier land.

However, an appeal has now been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to have their decision overturned.

Outlining the grounds of appeal, a planning agent acting on behalf of the owners claimed the development would not have a negative impact on the countryside.

Dafydd Edwards said: “This underused brownfield site is not currently a good use of a resource, used primarily as a car parking area for the existing garden centre.

“The relocation of structures, together with a revised parking layout would be a better use of land bringing underused sections of the site back into use, without affecting the open countryside to the rear.

“The site is an opportunity to provide an unobtrusive small development within an existing hamlet of structures which are located outside the settlement but on a recognised brownfield site.

“Significant consideration must be given to the additional housing the proposal provides, utilising a brownfield site with has excellent transport links to the town centre, and villages within the county borough.

“I therefore respectfully request the planning inspector to consider the information which was previously presented to the planning department and allow outline planning permission for the principle of development on this area of land.”

During May’s meeting, 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.

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