Trust plans for 'urban village'

An artist's impression of how the houses might look

The National Trust is selling 20 acres of land, which will be turned into an "urban village" near Wrexham.

It has outline planning for a development near Rhostyllen, which will include 222 houses, community hall, tea room, shops, parks and a playground.

Estate agents, who said a quarter of new houses would be affordable homes, are inviting offers from developers.

The trust aims to use money raised for looking after the 18th Century Erddig house and estate nearby.

Estate agent John Broadbent, from Knights Frank, said the trust wanted the development to fit "harmoniously" with its surroundings.

"Strong interest"

He added: "The National Trust has a very clear vision of what it wants to achieve and there is a lot of emphasis on quality and design, with open spaces for residents to enjoy. "The inclusion of shops and community rooms within the plans will also make it much more than a traditional residential development."

All funds raised from the sale will go towards the long-term survival and maintenance of the trust-owned Erddig house and estate.

Money from the sale will help in the upkeep of the Erddig estate

The National Trust said a quarter of the new homes built would be affordable housing.

It also claims detailed reports have been compiled about wildlife and nature conservation at the site, which is just two miles from Wrexham's centre.

Mr Broadbent added: "We are expecting strong levels of interest, given the scale of the site and its location.

"The National Trust rarely disposes of land, and it decided to oversee this development and find a developer willing to work towards its objective of creating a sustainable new community."

He said all submitted proposals would be required to demonstrate how they would integrate the new housing area with the established village.

There will also be an obligation to provide safe and convenient facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and preference will be given to plans favouring locally-sourced materials like bricks and stone.