Forums Forums Local News More threats to Wirral's Green Belt

Front page of Wirral Globe this week - and also on their website - is a map showing many areas in which an interest has been shown by developers. On Facebook I've seen a list of areas and prospective numbers of houses, too. As you might expect, a lot of them are on Green Belt - I mean, what developer doesn't like a nice green field on which to build? Hmph. If all the properties planned for Wirral Waters (will that ever happen?) were actually built, the Green Belt wouldn't need to be threatened. Check, in case a green space near you is under threat.

How come as I travel around the Wirral I see loads of derelict brownfield sites that aren't being built on?

I also do not understand why we have development area plans, its a crazy situation when small supermarkets can't get planning permission to build on a site because its not the "correct usage" or a go-kart business can't use an industrial site, it creates an unnecessary inflexibility.

It seems to have taken a long time to realise that it pays to have housing close to industrial and business areas, something that was common at one time (look at Unilever).

Everything has to go through planning permission, why have pre-conceived blocks that may not be relevant?

Greenbelt is a difficult decision, if the population grows and we have better standard of living with lower housing density, we need to use more land. Every house was built on land that was greenbelt at one time or another.

The biggest crime is developers and investors sitting on unused land.

'Land banking' is indeed way out of order and I think there was talk some time ago of putting more pressure on owners to 'use it or lose it'.

The latest thing is looking at 'soft targets' I think - greenfieild sites near other areas of population, so less infrastructure will be needed. Sure, eeverything was at one stage built on greenfield sites, but people are now realising that once it's gone it's gone and a certain quality of life goes with it. Higher density housing might be needed more than low density, to deal with the higher number of single person households and people needing affordable homes.

Higher density with usable, safe, quality greenspace for all, rather than big gardens for a few, might be the way forward. Green belt release should be an absolute last resort. All brownfield options should be exhausted first.

I was driving passed the penny Bridge by the tip and looking at all the wasteland there they could use for housing and it would stop the gypsies from going here every year, just me thinking out loud.

That land is already allocated for the Wirral's Trafford Centre - but don't hold your breath.

I saw some details about this.

Firstly why should so much land be needed for the Government target of 2020.. 3,500 houses ? Not 12,000 houses as indicated.

Secondly , who has actually drawn this detailed plan of the jeopardised 'green belt' areas, and how have they come to this conclusion ?.

Thirdly, surely we elect our councillors to do the best for each area. If they can't do so that, then they shouldn't be in office. Don't call on the public to do your work and hold protests every time etc. I for one have had enough of being dragged into those sort of things. Let them get on with it, take away the very ethos of Wirral and watch the Peninsula change for the worse. It won't be the 'Leisure Peninsula' for much longer . Congestion and fumes ...

Yes, with regard to Wirral Waters and Peel's Centre.. supposed to be plenty of accommodation in the pipeline for that.

I hope that with all these new houses that WMB appear to be set upon will also result in better facilities, nurseries, schools, road improvements and crossings, traffic lights and speed bumps.. because it will all be needed if encroaching on the less populated areas.

Just looked at the list Greenwood posted. Might as well say goodbye to most of the wildlife to. All the areas by me where wildlife struggles and needs a helping hand.

I'm disgusted , totally disgusted that these people don't even know and don't care what goes on .

Limbo Lane, 522 houses ? That's a whole new estate for goodness sake ! They'll need another Health Centre as well and school and a whole new road system as congestion at either end Irby/Greasby/Thingwall is bad in peak times as it is. . and traffic running up from the lights at Arrowe Park is a nightmare at times. A constant flow that never stops further down due to lights changing at Arrowe park for the next feed of traffic going down to Pensy/Heswall/ Thingwall.

The target Wirral has to meet is 800 homes per year for the next 15 years, it only has to identify sites for this requirement, it doesn't mean they will be built so basically they have to identify sites for 12,000 homes now. (There are also targets for the number of houses built)

12,000 sounds horrendous but Wirral Waters is planning 15,000 in the long run. Currently the existing number of homes is around 140,000

As Wirral natives generally have a reducing population it would indicate that this housing is not for the Wirral native population.

Replying to @greenwood, I'm not sure about the concept of producing high density housing without gardens and open spaces in preference to having large greenfield areas. The country has been down the concrete jungle route before and it failed miserably with very expensive developments being knocked down long before their expected lifetime not to mention the amount of misery and suffering they caused.

Successive Governments have destroyed the basic concept of family units which has greatly affected native population growth and the average number of people per household.

This councillor must have the wrong end of the stick then :

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/1...es-of-wirrals-protected-land-to-be-sold/

Councillor Phillip Brightmore, cabinet member for leisure and ward member for Pensby and Thingwall, said: "Residents will be rightly outraged at these proposals.

"The Government knows its targets can't be met on brownfield sites alone, so is pushing for Green Belt to be released to developers.

"But these proposals will fundamentally change the nature of our community by targeting fields off Pensby Road and removing the cherished green space between Thingwall and Irby.
"In effect, they merge these two historic towns.

"That can't be right. I will be meeting with residents to make sure their voice is heard."

I know I live off the Dock Road and we had about 7 different plans from peel holdings say it going to take over Tate's and build everything from a new shopping center to a shanghai flats to yachting Lake but f all has been done only the gas holders have gone

For what it's worth.

https://www.change.org/p/councillor...pment-in-west-wirral-save-our-green-belt

Wonder when an area is considered 'full' ? Do we wait till every Wirralian lives in a concrete jungle with just a few trees and a field to share here and there ? Nice.

Very good point. Our Labour Council seem to have got caught up in the moment !

When do we consider a luxury golf course development includes a 90 bed - hotel, conference facilities and spa, 2 golf courses and clubhouses, a links academy, large car park, a new link road, maintenance buildings and, so far, 160 luxury houses and 40 luxury apartments (all Band H). ..........................is a more important use of land than affordable homes for those in need ?

Consultation now open - scroll down the linked article for opportunities to make your feelings known in advance of the technical consultation in September.
www.wirral.gov.uk/localplan

As we are coming under Liverpool City Region.. is this now the way we have to go with regard to everything. Liverpool dictate ? (maybe to alleviate Liverpool housing problem)
I would like to know who the Consultations have been made with. Which Companies are involved, which Councilors have already approved these plans, who and how many have identified the locations and where they actually live in relation to Wirrals' Green Belt Land.

In addition Harrock Wood, Irby, is in the mix.. That belongs to the National Trust (or it did)

https://assets.publishing.service.g...5/Liverpool_devolution_deal_unsigned.pdf

HOUSING AND PLANNING
22. The Liverpool City Region Mayor will exercise strategic planning powers to help
accelerate economic growth and new housing development throughout the City
Region. This will include:
a. Development of a Single Statutory City Region Framework supporting the
delivery of strategic employment and housing sites throughout the City
Region. Such a Framework would require approval by a unanimous vote of
members appointed to the Combined Authority by the constituent councils.
This approach must not delay the development of local plans - Local
Authorities within the City Region commit to delivering local plans by early
2017, pooling resources across the city region as necessary to do so. These
will support development of the single City Region Framework.
b. The power to be consulted on and/or call-in planning applications of
strategic importance to the City Region, subject to the consent of the relevant
Combined Authority Member for the individual authority area.
c. As a step towards a Statutory Framework, the City Region will commit to the
identification of key economic sites for Housing and for Employment, at the
City Region level, by 2017 to support a Mayoral Development Corporation
approach. The City Region will also create a brownfield register to support
this work. This will support the delivery of new housing and employment
growth ahead of any Statutory Plan being produced.
d. The creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation, which will support the
delivery of key sites through Mayoral Development Zones in the Liverpool City
Region. This will include the ability to undertake Compulsory Purchase
Orders to aid scheme delivery. These powers will be exercised with the
consent of the Authority in which the powers are being used.
e. The government and the City Region will develop a Land Commission
(including a Joint Assets Board for economic assets formerly held by the
Regional Development Agency, with the Joint Asset Board’s terms of
reference being jointly agreed, as far as consistent with government priorities
on public sector land and receipts targets) to support the better coordination
and release of public asset disposals. This will include representation from
senior government officials from relevant Departments and NonDepartmental

Public Bodies. The joint approach will aim to increase the
availability of sites for economic growth, housing, and improved
communities.
10
f. Liverpool City Region and the government will continue to discuss the
devolution of housing loan funds and the city regions future housing

GREEN BELT SITES

https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-...-plan-wirral-2018/local-plan-sites/green

...and considering some of these Green Belt Sites are in more upmarket locations, are these houses going to be for the 'detached 4 bedroom, double garage and large garden , brigade' or for those who really need the homes ?

I see the open land around Caldy is not being targeted !