Wirral considers reneging on Persimmon land deal
Council members will decide on Monday whether or not to revoke an agreement to sell a nearly four-acre site off Ditton Lane in Moreton after a campaign group made the case for the environmental benefits of keeping the plot development-free.
More than 3,400 individuals signed a petition asking Wirral Council to pull out of the land deal, which had been agreed on 7 January and is subject to planning permission for a residential development being agreed.
The land in question sits at the junction of Ditton Lane and Pasture Road. The council had approved the site for disposal in 2023, noting that it had an estimated market value of £1m.
Little interest was received for the site, however, until it was jointly marketed with an adjacent, 13-acre site owned by a third party in April.
Once the two plots were joined together to present a 17-acre offering providing space for up to 228 homes, the councils’ agent Lambert Smith Hampton started getting offers from national housebuilders.
Persimmon was chosen as the preferred bidder and a deal was agreed last month.
Friends of Pasture Marsh then submitted a letter opposing the deal to the council, citing the plot’s environmental value as a flood water storage site and as a habitat for several species of bats and birds. The group also said it held trees with preservation orders – a line that council officers have since disagreed with, noting they can find no such evidence.
After the letter was received, 14 council members requested a reconsideration of the land deal.
Worth noting is that since the 2023 decision to put the land up for sale, the plot has been included as a wetlands and watercourse site in Liverpool City Region’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Should Wirral Council opt to ditch the deal with Persimmon, it would have to decide whether to re-market the site or to keep it for the foreseeable future, perhaps leaning into the nature recovery strategy angle.
In a report to the council, officers note that because the deal is contingent on securing planning permission, Persimmon would have to provide sufficient evidence of a capable flood risk mitigation strategies as well as provide a sequential test proving there were no alternative sites. A future housing scheme would also need to deliver 10% biodiversity net gain.
So according to local Press reports, the council are technically insolvent and relying on Government to bail it out for a third year running. And here it is reneging on a deal to bring in an important capital receipt. Utter madness and clearly someone is seeing their future as a councillor in this ward as more important than the future sustainability of the Council.
By Beltless
Interesting scenario, desperate Council trying to sell land to raise more capital to keep going whilst trying to meet its housing targets. Its a site thats clearly in a flood zone, requires raising to enable development and is identified in a wider nature recovery strategy and with substantive opposition against its development.Doesnt seem particularly well thought through or a sustainable proposition, just opportunistic. Would be interesting to see the sequential test.
By Ivor
Someone talk me through Wirral Council’s ‘brownfield only’ local plan again, would they?
By Birket Boy
As part of any planning application, Persimmon would need to demonstrate no adverse flood impacts on the site or elsewhere. If that was done, then what’s the issue? Surely, wait to see if they can get a planning approval and make £1mill. If they can’t then keep it for nature recovery. Sorted. Decision made. Easy being a Councillor.
By Anonymous
Having read the recently published External Auditor’s Report – the worst assessment of a Council I have ever read – am I surprised at this situation? No. Very damning assessment of the Fawlty Towers Council from Grant Thorton.
By Anonymous
There’s a reason why this area wasn’t built on, and with climate change and rising sea levels these fields will only get more flooded and have standing water for longer periods of time. Flooding from the sea, the Birket or a raised water table should be enough for all involved to see sense and built somewhere else.
By GetItBuilt!
It would be foolish for anyone to live on a floodwater site. This location is completely unsuitable to build homes on. Leave it be as it is meant to be . Pasture Lane floodwater site and nature reserve with its ancient listed trees and rare species of bats.
By C.Cairn . Wallasey.
It’s already been declared a flood zone 3 and that develpoment on this shouldnt be permitted and that it wouldnt pass an Exception test! The council already have this report from a previous assessment of the land!
By Anonymous
Persimmon homes make the greatest homes known to man in this generation. The council would be silly not to take ther up ther offer to put the most elegantly designed houses in this area. I was a employe by persimmon homes a few years back. This is how I know. They don’t just build boring row to row houses that look newish. They are accurately designed by one of the best architects who plan’s out streets likes luxury miami high class area’s with caricature and style that isn’t matched any where in the world
By Master sight builder
House build will go ahead. Wirral council care about the money, nothing else is important to them.
By Anonymous
It’s called Moreton-in-the-Marsh for a very good reason – no costly site investigation necessary.
By Russ Sampson
It’s actually called “Moreton in Marsh” 😉 and of course you’re right.
By Anonymous