PLANS to build new homes on the site of former council properties that were demolished in Wrexham look set to be given the go ahead.

Around 13 terraced houses were knocked down in the Gwynant area of Plas Madoc towards the end of 2017 after they were deemed to be too difficult to let.

Wrexham Council applied to create a mixture of 11 houses and apartments in their place back in May.

The proposals have now received the backing of a senior official, who has recommended councillors should approve them at a meeting next week.

It comes despite part of the land being judged to be at risk of flooding in an area where building houses would not normally be permitted.

In a report, the local authority’s chief planning officer Lawrence Isted said: “Up until recently, the application site was occupied by 13 three storey terraced dwellings in two blocks.

“These were demolished in 2017/18 following a decision to reduce housing stock which was considered inadequate to meet the council’s housing need and to release the land for more appropriate developments.

“The designation of the land in flood risk terms is wholly acknowledged.

“Technical advice note 15 (planning guidance) states that highly vulnerable development shall not be permitted in such a designation and there will be no justification that can be presented that will make such new development acceptable.

“However, I have approached this proposal on the basis of the recent built development on the site.

“In this instance, I am satisfied that the relatively short time that the land has lain vacant of a residential use and the significant benefit or providing affordable housing stock to meet a local need should be given significant weight.”

The application has been submitted with a flood consequences assessment and advice has also been sought from Natural Resources Wales, who have removed their initial objection to the scheme.

If approved by the council’s planning committee, the decision would then need to be referred to the Welsh Government because of the flood risk.

The plans will be considered by councillors at a meeting at Wrexham’s Guildhall on Monday, December 2.