PLANS to build 15 houses on the site of a Wrexham scrapyard look set to be refused despite claims it would reduce anti-social behaviour.

An application relating to the former Legacy Car Dismantlers and Scrap Yard, near Rhosllanerchrugog is due to be considered by councillors next week.

The proposals put forward by Gino Paletta from Trailwalk Ltd have received the support of a number of local representatives.

It includes members of Rhos Community Council, who said the site on Llwyneinion Road had become a target for offenders.

They added it would meet the need for housing in the area and improve the appearance of the land.

However, Wrexham Council’s chief planning officer has recommended the development should be rejected because of the countryside location.

In a report, Lawrence Isted said: “The condition of the site and concern about anti-social behaviour are not, by themselves, valid reasons to grant planning permission.

“If planning applications were looked at more favourably solely or primarily because the site was in a rundown condition then it would offer an incentive for other landowners to leave sites to fall into states of disrepair in the hope that proposals would be granted permission that otherwise conflict with adopted planning policies.

“This would significantly undermine planning policies that seek to direct development such as housing to the most appropriate/sustainable locations.”

He added: “There are a number of other interventions open to the applicant that would serve to discourage anti-social behaviour, such as better site security.

“The site is also currently occupied by a substantial brick building that may lend itself to conversion to alternative uses thus allowing a regular human presence to be established that serves to deter unwanted access.”

The report also highlights the presence of great crested newts at the site, which are a protected species.

The developer has included plans for a dedicated ecological area for the amphibians.

Mr Isted acknowledged the species could be protected through the use of planning condition.

But overall he concluded the proposals were “fundamentally at

odds” with the character of the wider area.

The application will be dealt with at a planning committee meeting being held on Monday, July 27.