Sefton set to approve 1,700 homes
Two applications from developers East Maghull Consortium and Countryside Properties with Persimmon Homes on adjacent plots are recommended for approval at Sefton’s planning committee.
The first is EMC’s outline plans for up to 855 homes along with an older person’s housing scheme, a mixed-use local centre and public park.
EMC is a collection of landowners across the site who have come together to develop plans for its future use. They have worked in tandem with Countryside and Persimmon to deliver its proposals.
The 85-acre site is bound by School Lane to the north, a railway line to the west and Whinny Brook to the south.
Details regarding access are being considered for all parts of this scheme except for for the older person’s housing scheme, which has details reserved for future consideration by the council.
The scheme will have a 30% affordable housing provision, which is also to be discussed at reserved matters stage.
The second is Countryside Properties’ and Persimmon Homes’ application for 841 homes and a 25-home older person’s residential scheme.
The 68-acre site is bound by Poverty Lane to the south, a railway line to the west, Whinny Brook to the north and the M58 to the east.
The proposed site layout shows that 270 of the 841 homes would be affordable, equating to a 32% provision. Of the affordable homes, 41 would be two-bedroom, 226 would be three-bedroom, and three would be four-bedroom.
Matt Gannon, independent Sefton Councillor for Sudell Ward, objects to both schemes on the grounds that they would pose challenges including pollution, traffic congestion, inadequate parking at train stations and inadequate train services, as well as strain on local health services. He also considers the scheme contrary to Maghull Neighbourhood Plan, according to the planning documents.
The overall 212-acre within which the site sits, forms part of the ‘Land East of Maghull’ strategic mixed-use allocation in the Sefton Local Plan, which was agreed in 2017. The proposal was part of the largest single allocation in the Local Plan and was endorsed by a Government inspector. His agreement and this allocation meant that the site was taken out of the designated Green Belt.
The Local Plan states: “The development of the whole allocation will provide a significant proportion of the borough’s housing and employment requirements for the next 10-15 years.”
The three developers, East Maghull Consortium, Countryside Properties and Persimmon Homes, worked in collaboration with Sefton Council to create the Local Plan.
Sefton’s planning committee meeting is on 22 January.
