ACREFAIR is "desperate" for a new school, a councillor has said ahead of a planning decision which could lead to a funding boost for the village's primary education capacity.

The Leader reported earlier this year how Wrexham Council planning committee members discussed a scheme entailing 232 properties at the Air Products site in Acrefair - permission for which was initially granted for in 2018.

The council had given the go ahead subject to Prospect Estates Limited entering into a Section 106 legal agreement to pay between £1,960 and £2,352 per house towards boosting the capacity of local primary schools.

But at a meeting of the committee in June this year it was revealed that the company has sought to remove the obligation, along with another to make a quarter of the properties affordable, claiming it would render the scheme unviable.

A report to the planning committee, which will meet on Monday, recommends the removal of requirements for affordable housing completely.

It adds that the applicant company has also withdrawn its request to have the financial contributions for primary education removed.

The document explains: "In order to improve the likelihood that the redevelopment of this significant previously developed site takes place it is essential that the extant Planning Obligation is amended to remove requirements for affordable housing. This is entirely consistent with the Council’s own viability evidence for this part of the County Borough."

Cefn councillor Derek Wright said: "I did a survey when these plans first came up and in the four primary schools in our area, there were about 20 places available. "I have checked with schools in Ruabon, Pentre, Penycae, Gareth - they don't seem to have a lot of places either.

"The main concern from my point of view was the school issue.

"I ask that the Section 106 money be given priority. I hope there will be a substantial enough amount to go towards another school because Acrefair is desperate for one."

The report to the planning committee recommends the council amends the extant planning obligation in respect of the scheme by removing the requirement to provide affordable housing.