Wirral Council is to consult with people across the borough as it looks to put together a 15-year plan for major regeneration projects. Tony McDonough reports
People across Wirral are to asked their views on how the borough’s green belt can best be protected from development amid demand for up to 12,000 new homes.
Wirral Council is to consult with residents on its proposed 15-year Local Plan, identifying key brownfield site that can help drive regeneration. The draft document will also outline how land should be used for industrial and commercial uses, agriculture and open spaces.
Cabinet member for the Local Plan, Cllr Anita Leech, said: “We listened to what people had to say in the Development Options Review last year and many people have been concerned at any risk to the Green Belt. This new draft document shows we are doing everything in our power to protect it.
“It identifies how we can use only previously developed sites and urban land to meet the housing needs target, and these regeneration areas will play a key role in helping us meet this target.”
Under the proposals urban regeneration locations including Wirral Waters and areas in Birkenhead and Wallasey will play a crucial role in helping deliver the housing needed into the future. Broad regeneration areas identified are:
- Hind Street, Birkenhead
- Woodside, Birkenhead
- Town Centre, Central Birkenhead
- Wirral Waters, Wallasey/Birkenhead docks
- Hamilton Park, adjoining Wirral Waters
- Scotts Quay, Wallasey
- Seacombe-New Brighton riverside corridor
- New Brighton
Cllr Leech added: “Many of these sites are privately owned and the council is working with landowners and developers to ensure all potential locations are made available and delivered.”
At a special meeting of the full council on Monday, January 13, councillors will be asked to approve consultation on a document which sets out the authority’s preferred option for meeting its future housing and employment land requirements.
The council’s preferred option is to meet the demand using only urban and previously developed – or brownfield – sites to meet its future housing and employment needs. The housing requirement for Wirral is determined using Government guidelines and data and is calculated to be 12,000 new homes up to 2035.
If approved, the consultation will take place from Jan 27 to March 23. You can register to have your comments included by clicking here. Roadshows will take place during the consultation period and the documents are available from local libraries.