An appeal to overturn Wrexham Council’s decision to reject plans for a new McDonald's drive-thru has been dismissed.
Wrexham’s planning committee refused the initial application in June 2021.
It had been proposed that the fast food restaurant would be built on Plas Coch Retail Park, in The Range car park.
Plans for the takeaway store included 95 seats inside, with an adjoining drive-thru.
It had been stated that the new development would create 65 new jobs and prevent a “16 mile round trip” that some residents currently make to the nearest drive thru in Chirk.
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Proposals had initially been recommended for approval by the then chief planning officer, Lawrence Isted, but committee members argued the development would worsen traffic issues in the area.
An appeal was launched in a bid to overturn Wrexham Council’s decision, but the plans have been dismissed by Iwan Lloyd, an Inspector appointed by the Welsh Ministers.
In his report, Mr Lloyd highlighted three main issues with the appeal:
- The impact of the proposal on the integrity on the River Dee and Bala Lake Riverine SAC
- The affect of the proposal on highway safety
- The impact of the proposal on community health
Despite initial concerns from committee members regarding increased traffic issues, Mr Lloyd stated that the “proposal would not harm traffic flow due to the regulated control of movement by traffic-light controlled roundabouts.”
The inspector also concluded that the development “would not adversely impact community health due to the location of the development in relation to a local primary school.”
The appeal was eventually dismissed over phosphates.
Mr Lloyd stated that the appellant was notified that the development could increase the levels of phosphates discharged into the catchment of the River Dee and Bala Lake Riverine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
The inspector concluded by saying: “Whilst this issue was not identified by the Council as a reason for refusing the planning application it is a matter of importance in the determination of this appeal. "
Natural Resources Wales have recently introduced new phosphate level targets, which raised concerns over Wrexham's planning application for the Kop.
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