Designing new homes is about much more than just bricks and mortar. It is about designing a community. A neighbourhood. A place people can call home. Extensive technical work has been undertaken to inform the design principles and planning parameters for the development to establish a clear framework for detailed design moving forward.

This is shown on the parameters plan and has been used to inform the draft illustrative masterplan available. Further information about how the plans have developed can be found in the Design & Access Statement which sets out the vision for Erlas Park; a high-quality, sustainable, landscape-led residential development.  

The site has been identified by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Local Development Plan as suitable to deliver much-needed new homes. As part of the wider Cefn Road (KSS2) allocation, Harworth Group’s proposes to deliver up to 900 new homes at the site.

A Planning Statement has been prepared which demonstrates the need for residential development at Erlas Park, as well as how Harworth Group’s plans accord with relevant national, regional and local planning policies. You can view the Planning Statement.

The plans for Erlas Park will be a landscape-led residential development and extensive consideration has been given to ensure the landscape strategy identifies, retains and protects valued features, elements and attributes of the site, where possible. This will include retaining trees and hedgerows, enhanced through surrounding open space and green linkages.

The Public Open Space requirement will exceed standards, with a community orchard and/or allotments, formal and informal leisure and recreation play spaces. You can read more about the approach taken in the Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment, whilst details of how existing trees and hedgerows have been considered can be found in the Arboricultural Survey.

A key aspect of preparing the plans for Erlas Park was to assess existing species and habitats, with an Ecological Survey having been undertaken. In preparing the plans, Harworth Group has ensured that the green infrastructure strategy has been designed to maintain connectivity of habitats by retaining existing features, such as hedgerows, as well as creating and strengthening connections to existing ponds and woodlands. This will also help to mitigate impacts on wildlife, such as bats, birds and badgers.

The previous highways strategy has also been revised, incorporating several secondary access roads to accompany the previous proposed primary access points off Cefn Road. These vehicular access points would be supported by a number of dedicated pedestrian/cycle access points. These changes will improve traffic flow whilst also encouraging active travel methods for future and existing residents. Improvements will also be made to the A534 / A5156 roundabouts to accommodate increased demand on the local highway network.

There are several bus routes that frequent nearby roads, such as the 5 and 35 on Styrt Holt and the 8 on Sutton Drive / Hullah Lane.

It is envisaged that the spine road which will run through the site would present a fantastic opportunity for a new / rerouted bus route and Harworth Group would work with the bus operators to achieve this. This road will also connect the site to the land south of Holt Road at later stages of development. Further information can be found in the Transport Assessment available and the Travel Plan which promotes suitable travel locally.

Erlas Park will be a highly sustainable development which capitalises on the site’s close proximity to a range of local facilities, such as shops, services and schools. In addition to encouraging the use of public transportation, cycling and walking, a Sustainability Statement has been prepared that focuses on energy improvements, reduced water use, waste management and efficient use of non-renewable material resources, as well as the preservation and increase of ecology and biodiversity assets.

To find out more about how the scheme will create a vibrant and sustainable community in line with national and local policy commitments, please view the Sustainability Statement.

The site is located within Flood Zone 1, which is the lowest level of risk. There are several existing ponds on the site which have been incorporated into the Drainage Strategy and will provide habitats to maintain biodiversity at the site.

The Drainage Strategy proposes that surface water is collected via rainwater pipes, porous paving, channels and gullies which are drained into infiltration basins. The layout proposes several landscaped areas, allowing the development to be divided into three catchment areas, each being served by an infiltration basin to ensure site drainage.

An Archaeological & Heritage Desk Based Assessment and Heritage Impact Assessment have been undertaken to identify archaeological and built heritage assets, as well as assess their importance and impact from the proposed development.

To find out more, please view the Archaeological & Heritage Desk Based Assessment and the Heritage Impact Assessment which can be downloaded.

A Minerals Safeguarding & Prior Extraction Assessment has identified that the site is located within an area defined as ‘Protection of Mineral Resources’ by the Council (Proposals Map of the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan, 2005). It is understood that the site is mainly overlain Devensian Glaciofluvial Sheet Deposits which comprise sand and gravel.

Further details regarding the conditions of the site can be found in the Ground Condition Desk Study Report which can be downloaded below.

An Air Quality Report has assessed the potential impact on air quality due to the construction and operation of new homes on land to the east of Cefn Road. The report concluded that mitigation measures will need to be adopted during construction of the new homes to ensure dust does not have a detrimental impact on people residing locally. Harworth Group is committed to being a good neighbour and would ensure considerate construction measures.