Firm's plea over warehouse plans

The company said Wrexham needed investment during the recession

Plans for a major warehouse development in Wrexham have been recommended for refusal by planners.

Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd submitted two applications in a £100m plan which it said could create hundreds of jobs.

Two warehouses spread over 93,700sqm (1,000,000sqft) are highlighted for refusal while plans for industrial units are recommended for approval.

The company urged councillors to make the "right decision" ahead of Monday's planning meeting.

The report recommends refusal for the second application because the "site lies in the open countryside and outside of any settlement limit within which the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan directs all new (employment) development".

In addition, the report states that the land is "fundamentally a rural landscape and undeveloped".

It also says that the site falls into an area which has been allocated for a "major single user employer", whereas the application is for two separate users.

'Worrying'

Tony Goddard, chief executive of Kingmoor Park Properties Ltd, said Wrexham needed investment given the "deep economic recession and the worrying loss of jobs in Wrexham recently".

He added: "I hope the councillors consider this recommendation on Monday very carefully indeed and make the right decision for the community and the people who need jobs and security of employment."

Kingmoor Park said one of the buildings was designed to cater for the expansion needs of adjoining company TDG, which is looking to create 150 jobs for the area.

TDG said: "We are extremely disappointed that the councillors are being advised to turn down our opportunity for expansion.

"Our capital commitment to this scheme will be in the region of £20-25m and the wage contribution to the local economy about £2-3m. This is our commitment to Wrexham."