Wirral signs off 115 brownfield homes

“Frankly if we can’t build houses on sites like this without people objecting to them, we’ve got no chance – no chance whatsoever of protecting genuine green spaces,” said Cllr Stuart Kelly during yesterday’s planning committee meeting, reflecting on Lovell Partnerships’ proposals for a Port Sunlight neighbourhood.

Lovell’s application for 115 houses off Dock Road North had been called in by three ward councillors due to a number of concerns – including the absence of a local shop being included and the abundance of car parking when car pooling should be encouraged.

Each of these was shot down during the committee meeting, with committee chair Kelly noting that none of the objections had any merit. Kelly added that with the government’s proposed changes to planning committees and policy, the committee would need to take a closer look at the reasons for calling in an application rather than leaving it for delegated powers.

Lovell’s application was then unanimously approved, with council planning officers set to firm up a Section 106 agreement with the developer.

Armed with councillor go-ahead, the project will see the houses built on the former Land and Marine Depot, a 7.5-acre site that currently holds 30,400 sq ft of underutilised and vacant industrial buildings. These are to be demolished as part of Lovell’s plans.

Of the 115 homes proposed, 42 would be affordable – including all 27 of the two-bed properties and 15 of the three-bed ones. The remaining 46 three-bed homes and 27 four-bed residences would be market housing.

The homes themselves would be a mix of terraced, semi-detached, and detached properties, under designs by Ainsley Gommon Architects. Each home would have access to off-road parking and its own garden. Cars would arrive at the neighbourhood from Dock Road North.

Asteer Planning led the planning charge for Lovell. Asteer director Paul Nellist said: “This is a brilliant scheme that will deliver much-needed, high-quality family housing on what is essentially a windfall, derelict brownfield site but will add to the creation of a sustainable, nice place to live next to the Sunlight River Park.”

Nellist continued: “The applicant, Lovell Partnerships, and Asteer worked collaboratively with Wirral planning officers on a scheme that was very well received by the planning committee and we can’t wait to see the houses being built and lived in.”

Eddisons provided transport advice for the scheme, with Betts Hydro as flood risk and drainage consultant. The project team also included Amenity Tree, Complete Sustainability Solutions, Wardell Armstrong, and Beech Group.

You can learn more about the application by searching reference number APP/23/01510 on Wirral Council’s planning portal.