Leverhulme fights back in Wirral
The developer is appealing the council’s rejection of eight applications, which would have seen the building of around 800 homes and a 56-acre park on Green Belt.
Wirral Council systematically refused Leverhulme’s planning applications last year, describing the projects as inappropriate development on Green Belt. The local authority also said there was insufficient evidence regarding the environmental impact of the schemes and an unsatisfactory amount of sustainable and active travel provisions.
All eight applications were part of the Leverhulme Vision project, which focuses on nearly 110 acres of Green Belt in Pensby, Irby, Greasby, Barnston, and Heswall. Of the eight projects, seven are focused on building up to 788 homes. The eighth is for a sustainable alternative natural greenspace with 3.26km of footpaths.
Only one Leverhulme Vision application has yet to be refused – an outline application for 240 homes in Greasby.
Leverhulme said its plans would deliver more than 300 affordable homes, which the developer claims are much needed in Wirral.
“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,” said Leverhulme head of land and planning Nigel McGurk.
“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,” McGurk continued.
“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.”
McGurk concluded: “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.”
Alan Baxter is the masterplanner and architect for the Leverhulme Vision projects, with Strutt & Parker as the planning consultant. Curtins is the transportation consultant for the schemes. Barnes Walker is the landscaping consultant.
For those interested in learning more about the Leverhulme Vision applications, the application numbers are:
Refused resi applications
- OUT/22/00941
- OUT/22/00942
- OUT/22/00943
- OUT/22/00944
- OUT/22/00945
- OUT/22/00946
- OUT/22/00947
Refused SANG application
- APP/22/01502
Undecided resi application
- OUT/22/01821
