Forums Forums Wirral Information Wirral info Developer wants to build Bebington Green Belt

There's no actual evidence that the project was rejected because of objections; we don't know what was said or by whom. The actual reasons were listed by AR_One.
I like this idea, nem12esis: "Perhaps it should be the council which commissions affordable housing with grants from the government of the day to help out. Profits can then be kept low if sold, or rental if not."
Maybe they could be known as "Council Houses".

I don't believe I said they were! My comment was in response to the OP's original comment that
i.e. these are not the type of houses that are needed, it would be bad enough to sacrifice precious greenbelt land for the affordable housing for which there is a real need, but even worse for overpriced "premium" housing that could only be afforded by a small minority of Wirral residents and of which there is no shortage

Brilliant news, thanks to the OP for bringing this matter to our attention.

They have appealed.

Appeal ref: 2214002 - Appellant's Name: Smith

Outline proposal for the redevelopment of land adjacent to Mount Road for residential purposes - land adjacent to Marsh Lane, Higher Bebington, CH63 5PP.

The Secretary of State will receive all written representations but further representations can me made or the original ones withdrawn.

Representations must be made within five weeks of 27 February 2014.

Mrs C Parker is the Principal Planning Officer.

Here's the appeal:

http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?caseid=2214002&coid=114

Appeal is to be heard next Wednesday, 23rd July at 10.00

http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/news/local-news/planning-inspectorate-decide-green-belt-7455482

I've just received the latest edition of the magazine of the Friends of Storeton Woods. The result of the appeal is in it and I'm copying it here.

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF LAND ADJACENT TO MARSH LANE
Last year, a planning application was made to build several houses between Storeton
Woods and Marsh lane. This was rejected by WBC not least due to concerns regarding
traffic on Mount Road. The applicant appealed against this refusal, which resulted in a
hearing on the 23rd July at Wallasey town hall conducted by a planning inspector from
London.
Following enquiries from members about the proposed development the FOSW consulted
the Woodland Trust, who raised concerns in writing to the WBC against the original
application due to the proximity to the edge of the woods.
With the hearing imminent and having spoken to more people about the proposal our new
Chair, Peter Exley went to the town hall to study the plans and report back to the Committee.
Although written submissions were not allowed at this stage, the Committee agreed that
Peter should attend the hearing to raise the concerns expressed by the owners of the
woods the Woodland Trust. Their concerns related to the risk of the wood edge overhanging
gardens, branches and whole trees could be indiscriminately lopped/felled, causing a
reduction in the woodland canopy. There would inevitably be safety issues in respect of
trees adjoining the proposed development , which would be threatening to the longer term
retention of such trees. The Woodland Trust have also found that when gardens abut
woodland there is a tendency for garden waste to be dumped in the woods and even for
some landowners to extend gardens into woods.
However the Planning Inspector thought the main issue was whether the proposal would
be an appropriate form of development in the Green Belt. The applicant had argued in the
appeal that the need for housing outweighed any harm that would be done to the Green
Belt. The Inspector concluded that it was an inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
The Inspector also considered Openness, Character and Appearance, Housing and Land
Supply and Highway safety. The latter being the only factor that the Inspector seemed to be
in favour with the appellant on.( This is a curious one because WBC had objected strongly
over the proposal that would have involved putting an island in the middle of Mount Road. I
suppose it depends on your view of road safety; do obstructions make roads safer or more
dangerous).
Decision
I wonder if you jumped here first before reading the story? The Inspector concluded that the
proposal would represent an inappropriate form of development... harmful by definition, that
would permanently reduce the openness of the Green Belt and have a detrimental impact on
the character and appearance of the immediate area. On the other hand, the proposal would
lead to an improvement in highway safety on Mount Road. The Inspector stated, “ For the
reasons given above I conclude that the appeal should be dismissed”.

Report by Peter Exley, Chairman, Friends of Storeton Woods
Issue No.94 Sept 2014 Autumn Issue.

Registered Charity No. 1001472 www.friendsofstoretonwoods.org.uk

Excellent news!

Here's a PDF of the appeal, which was dismissed:

http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.u...36.300.12.6813250&NAME=/Decision.pdf

Its a well well written report, kudos to it's author. Might be worth keeping it bookmarked for future use.

Thanks for that, Gibbo.

There are so many brownfield sites around this area there can't be any dire need to destroy any green space it's just a lazy way of getting sites, no need to clean up previous misdoings. The council planners here are the same as elsewhere, in hoc to the developers. We're goosed as a country that' for sure.