A FORMER community hub in Caia Park will make way for new homes in the area, councillors have agreed.

Members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee met virtually to discuss the plans attached to the former Kingsley Circle community centre in the Caia Park area.

The vision would see the community centre in Eaton Drive be demolished and be transformed into a new apartment block comprising ten two-bed homes and six one-bed homes.

Previous Leader reports state that the centre has stood empty for around several years after it was closed in April 2014 amid a round of savings made by Wrexham Council.

Concerns were raised by Cllr Bryan Apsley who said that 16 units would be “cramming” them into the site and says it would be overdevelopment of what the site could hold.

He adds that three-storey flats and complexes have been taken down in the Caia Park area due to the development of ASB in these sites.

He worries that if the development went ahead that it could potentially create more problems for the area but that it would be “dominating” for the houses nearby and create privacy issues with “overlooking”.

Cllr Apsley adds that the site access also poses an issue to him – saying that the potential residents of these homes would be using a car park which at present already serves four council houses and the deliveries taken by some local shops.

He adds that it would be more beneficial for this development to include its own parking facility.

Concerns were mitigated by planning officers stating that the building block orientation has changed to minimise the impact on neighbouring properties and minimise and privacy concerns.

Highways have also raised no objections but the officers add that the 25 spaces provided will be worked on to improve them to high standard.

Cllr Paul Roberts adds to the comments that this is an ‘excellent opportunity’ to provide some much-needed affordable housing in the county.