Wirral Council secures Government approval for its first Local Plan in 25 years and the ‘brownfield only’ strategy is set to see the construction of thousands of new homes. Tony McDonough reports
Wirral Council has won approval from Government planning inspectors for what it claims is the first ‘brownfield-only’ Local Plan.
This is the first Local Plan the borough has seen approved in 25 years – its last Unitary Development Plan. It means Wirral can now press ahead with plans to build thousands of new homes over the next 18 years.
Focused on brownfield sites the strategy allocates land for housing, including supported living for the ageing population.
It also identifies potential sites for creating new jobs and indicates how infrastructure to support this could be delivered, including schools, open space and helping people move around the borough.
In November 2024, Wirral unveiled a “transformational” project to develop the Wirral waterfront from Woodside to Wallasey Town Hall that will create a new vista and around 2,000 new homes.
Two masterplans for the waterfront area will create new places to live as well as a “mixed-use cultural riverside quarter with a range of superb visitor attractions”.
These masterplans envisage a number of taller buildings that would offer a more striking view across the water from Liverpool without having detrimental effects on the existing built environment and heritage.
In January councillors in Wirral gave outline planning consent for the Hind Street urban village project in Birkenhead that will see 1,600 homes built. It will include a new park, facilities for pedestrians, cyclists as well as commercial and community space.
Wirral has secured £52 million from Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to undertake remediation and infrastructure works which is scheduled to start in autumn 2025.
This Local Plan is the result of years of work from councillors, officers and the community, including extensive consultations which has seen the draft plan shaped by residents and businesses.
Wirral Council has also highlighted its £150m regeneration push across multiple projects, backed by Government Levelling Up funding. They include:
- £5.5m on New Ferry where regeneration work is already underway to deliver dozens of new homes and improved public spaces.
- £2m allocated to Birkenhead Market which is expected to be mostly complete by March 2026.
- £1.5m to Big Heritage CIC for the delivery of the renovation of Wirral Transport Museum.
- £750,000 to the Charing Cross & Grange Road, Conway & Europa Boulevard project.
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “This (the Local Plan) is a significant moment for Wirral. The Local Plan is the foundation of our regeneration programme, one of the largest in the country.
“It supports much-needed new homes, better employment opportunities now and for the next generation, and helps make this borough more prosperous for everyone.”
It was subject to public examination led by the Planning Inspectors who subsequently told the council the plan required some changes, known as Main Modifications.
These have now been made and agreed with the Inspectors who say that the plan is sound and that the council can move to adopt the document.
Cllr Stuart added: “Wirral’s Local Plan has the capacity to deliver a real and lasting transformation for this borough. The Inspectors’ recognition and support of the council’s brownfield-only strategy show how effective this approach promises to be.”