Wirral Boys Grammar playing fields primed for 100 homes
The Department for Education has given the thumbs up to the school’s plans to dispose of 7.5 acres of sports pitches off Peter Prices Lane for redevelopment.
Wirral Grammar School for Boys plans to reinvest the proceeds of the sale into its sports facilities.
The 100-home development will be brought forward by a housing delivery partner, due to be announced “imminently”, according to Roger Hannah, which advised the school on the application to DfE.
The school has previously said the playing fields were no longer usable due to poor drainage and ongoing maintenance issues.
The DfE approval process took 18 months and was led by Roger Hannah and Sophia Fleming Consulting.
Simon Ascroft, headteacher at Wirral Grammar School for Boys said: “The parcel of land off Peter Price’s Lane is no longer suitable as school playing fields.
“The sale of this land will raise a significant sum for re-investment into improved sports facilities to benefit our students and the whole community throughout the year. In late 2023 we began the process of seeking approval from the Department for Education to sell the land, while also marketing the site for potential development.
“This included initial consultation with residents and the school community. A development partner has now been selected and we are pleased to have received official confirmation from the DfE that we can proceed with the sale.”
Angela Juszczyk, director at Roger Hannah, said: “This is a fantastic outcome for the local area and a clear example of the positive impact that can be achieved with the right professional team in place.
“The result reflects months of detailed consultation, planning submissions, financial analysis, and community engagement.”
The wider professional team included Sophia Fleming Consulting, Ryan & May, Shoosmiths, Fenton Reece, PMC Squared, Royal Pilgrim and Flinders Chase.
Schoolchildren do not need sports fields. They can watch sport in their bedroom on their smartphones.
By James Yates
How about 95 homes and a playground.. or a GP.. or dentist.. something helpful for the community
By Anonymous
Has the increased burden on local schools,doctors,dentists etc been taken into account and what steps have been taken to ensure these facilities can accommodate the increased burden?
By Andy Harvey
So the fields are not useable due to poor drainage and maintenance costs, so deprive the area of another way of creating social cohesion through clubs that develops a mentality that stays with the individual for life.
Yes we need more homes, but as Anonymous 10:34 says, the areas most probably under stress from lack of amenity and support support services, so put more people in the area and don’t support them.
By Steve5839
Selling off the family silver to fund the next ten years. What a sorry state this country finds itself.
By Daniel
The fields drainage issues started in 2014 when a handful of residents in Teesdale Road decided it was a good idea to fill the purpose built drainage ditches at the borttom of their gardens in. Surprise surprise this caused major flooding issues in the fields and gardens.
By Anonymous