A FORMER manufacturing site in Wrexham has been sold for £3.5m after councillors gave more time to allow housing plans to move forward.

The Air Products site in Acrefair, where permission was previously granted for 232 houses, has been bought by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association.

It follows Wrexham Council’s planning committee approving an application to allow an extra 18 months for the proposals to move forward on Monday (April 12).

The move came despite some community leaders expressing frustration over how long the development has taken to progress after permission to build houses was first given to owners of the land in 2012.

The 17.5 acre plot has stood bare for almost a decade after the plant was closed, resulting in approximately 200 job losses.

Speaking at the meeting earlier this week, council planning officer David Williams said he understood councillors’ annoyance at the delays.

However, he said refusing the extension could see the site left derelict for even longer.

He said: “We’re in a situation here where we have no alternative but to support this application.

“The application is merely to extend the time limit for the submission of reserved matters as they’ve got an outline consent.

“The outline consent was granted in 2018, and it would have required the submission of those details to be made before the fifth of March this year. That time limit is gone.

“It’s not unusual and this happens quite often. I don’t think this is any attempt by the developers to in any way delay the implementation or the delivery of the scheme.”

Some committee members voiced reservations over allowing the extension.

Cllr Paul Pemberton suggested an additional 12 months should be given instead.

However, the majority of councillors supported granting the full 18 months.

It was announced the day after the meeting that Clwyd Alyn, which is based in North Wales, had subsequently bought the site from Bearmont Capital (Rhyl) Ltd.

The multi-million pound deal was completed by the company, which is part of the Bearmont Group, controlled by business entrepreneur Rob Lloyd, who previously appeared on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire programme.

Mr Lloyd said: “We’re thrilled to have agreed this important sale, which will provide quality new affordable homes to the area.

“It was a pleasure working with the housing association in achieving everyone’s wants, needs and aspirations.”

Craig Sparrow, executive director of development at Clwyd Alyn, said: “We have been pleased to work with Bearmont Homes for the acquisition of this large brown field site for future development.

“In bringing this site to our organisation it has helped secure our ambition for growth in our development programme.”