A MINI VILLAGE will be built on the site of Brymbo Steelworks after education officials performed a U-turn amid fears of school overcrowding.

Councillors and education officials registered their concerns when plans to build 469 homes on the former industrial site were submitted.

Wrexham's Education department formally objected to the proposals in the consultation stage, claiming that Tanyfron School, which is currently full, and Brymbo School, which has a small number of surplus places, would become crammed with too many pupils.

But following a site visit and further discussion, education officers have changed their minds and said that in fact projected figures did not suggest there would be any over-crowding at all.

'According to the expected figures for school-age children their numbers are expected to dip, leaving more surplus places,' said a council spokeswoman.

'As a result there is now no fear that schools do not have sufficient capacity to cope.'

Councillors deferred the decision on the plans by George Wimpey, Bloor Homes and Brymbo Developments at last week's planning committee meeting until they had been on a site visit on Friday.

They were unable to reject the application based on the implications for schools as it is not a planning matter.

But they wanted to look at the site and see for themselves how suitable it was for homes.

On their return they passed the scheme in accordance with recommendations of planning officers.

The development will go ahead but will include an agreed scheme for the layout, equipping and management of an open space play area. It is also essential roads must be of an adequate standard.

The developers will also need to come to an agreement with Welsh Water over essential expansion work to the village sewers. Welsh Water objected to the scheme on the grounds that it would overload the sewarage system in Brymbo, a system there are no plans to expand.