An eighth application, providing a further 240 homes, is currently with the Council awaiting a decision.
Leverhulme says it had no hesitation in lodging the appeals because it believes in the importance of the applications to meet Wirral’s need to provide for market and affordable housing and to do so through the delivery of “beautiful and sustainable communities”.
The proposals would deliver family homes, flats and bungalows, including more than 300 urgently needed affordable homes.
Leverhulme says Wirral has not kept pace with the required delivery of a range of affordable homes across the borough, resulting in an acute unmet need for high quality affordable homes due to Wirral Council’s failure to plan in any viable or deliverable manner.
Nigel McGurk, Leverhulme’s Head of Land and Planning, said: “Leverhulme is uniquely placed to be able to deliver the new homes that Wirral urgently requires and to deliver them in the most sustainable way.
“In delivering these developments, Leverhulme would ensure multiple other benefits in ways that no other proposal in Wirral can including the opening up of the countryside, the creation of new cycleways and footpaths and the enhancement of biodiversity and habitats.
“Crucially, our developments would stimulate essential economic growth across the Wirral - providing urgently needed homes, creating jobs and supporting services. They would serve to strengthen communities and promote wellbeing.
“We are disappointed that Wirral Council did not support our comprehensive, planned and unique solution to meeting Wirral’s needs in a way that provides for direct, ongoing reinvestment back into Wirral through a sustainable and realistic approach to development.”
The planning applications were submitted to Wirral Council following several years of detailed work resulting in the Leverhulme Vision.
Each of Leverhulme’s applications would complement the existing urban area and include:
- Leafy streets with generous open space, trees and gardens;
- New cycleways and footpaths;
- Enhanced biodiversity and habitats;
- Characterful bespoke architecture, drawing inspiration from places like Port Sunlight and Thornton Hough, inspired by the 1st Viscount Leverhulme;
- The viable delivery of a wide range of affordable housing;
- High levels of energy efficiency and investment in craftsmanship and long-lasting materials;
- Appropriate densities supporting good design and community cohesion;
- Generous internal floorspace in line with the Government’s Nationally Described Space Standards.
Nigel added: “We are committed to delivering the Leverhulme Vision which provides a deliverable and viable plan for sustainable development and for reinvestment back into Wirral.”
Leverhulme is also appealing the Council’s refusal of its application for a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) in Barnston.
Appeals have been submitted for the eight applications below:
- A 0.82-hectare site located to the north of Gills Lane in Pensby, between Thorncroft Drive and Gills Lane Farm and stables. To provide up to 15 new homes.
- A 7.35-hectare site located to the north of Gills Lane in Pensby and to the west of Barnston Road. To provide up to 153 new homes.
- A 3.92-hectare site located a short distance from the local centre of Pensby Road, Pensby. It sits to the north of Gills Lane, between the existing residential streets of Dale View Close, Gwendoline Close and Thorncroft Drive. To provide up to 92 new homes.
- A 17.38-hectare site located to the north of Thingwall Drive, to the east of Glenwood Drive and to the west of Arrowe Park, Irby. To provide up to 290 new homes.
- A 3.60-hectare site located to the north of Raby Hall Road between the Autism Together complex and the residential neighbourhood on Blakeley Road at the edge of Bromborough. To provide up to 80 new homes.
- A 3.30-hectare site located to the north of Raby Hall Road, with built development proposed to the west of Raby Hall and a footpath link to the east. To provide up to 38 new homes.
- A 8.36-hectare site located to the west of Barnston Road and north of Milner Road within easy walking distance of Heswall town centre and Heswall railway station. To provide up to 120 new homes.
- A 22.6-hectare Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) west of Barnston Road.