Leverhulme loses 800-home Wirral appeals 

The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed seven applications for the redevelopment of various Green Belt sites on the peninsula, dashing the estate’s hopes of contributing to the borough’s “acute” housing need. 

Leverhulme Estate proposed redeveloping 110 acres of Green Belt land in Pensby, Irby, Greasby, Barnston, and Heswall as part of its 788-home Leverhulme Vision. 

An eighth appeal against the refusal of plans for a 56-acre sustainable alternative natural greenspace off Barnston Road was withdrawn. 

All seven of the housing schemes – which featured plans for 300 affordable homes – were rejected by Wirral Council and have now also been refused by the planning inspectorate. 

Nigel McGurk, head of planning and development for Leverhulme, said the estate was “disappointed” by the outcome of the appeal, saying that the homes would have made a significant contribution to addressing Wirral’s housing supply issues. 

“The very real and deeply embedded issues facing Wirral regarding the chronic lack of housing supply, in particular the urgent requirement for family and affordable housing, remain the same, and will not simply go away,” he said. 

“Unfortunately for those in need of housing, Wirral Council’s current trajectory will continue to fail to deliver the mix of housing that the borough requires. 

While Leverhulme has tasted defeat at the hands of the Planning Inspectorate, there is still one Vision scheme that is yet to be determined: 240 homes on 25 acres of Green Belt east of Rigby Drive. 

Despite the outcome of the appeal, McGurk is remaining positive. 

“We will continue to promote the Leverhulme Vision for deliverable, sustainable communities, most immediately via the Local Plan process,” he said. 

“We look forward to ultimately contributing to the acute housing needs of the borough.”