Dear Supporters,

There is a new ambitious regeneration framework for Birkenhead. However, the Green Belt is not yet safe.

For years there was never a holistic strategy for the redevelopment of  Birkenhead and the surrounding docks and industrial wasteland. In 2018, when ex Council leader Phil Davies, stated that “some green-belt release is inevitable”,  and the release of upto 50 green belt sites were put forward for release, there was a massive public outcry.

One of the 5 defined “purposes” of Green Belt is “to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land”. We knew that if the Council pressed ahead with Green Belt release for housing then the much needed regeneration of Birkenhead would be negatively impacted. So, we are pleased to see the great progress that is being made with the regeneration of Birkenhead.  Our campaign has always stated that there is enough Brownfield sites on the Wirral to meet our housing needs. So, we fully support the direction that the Council is now taking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aF7WSnlnsA

Therefore, it is important that people take part in the consultation about the plans for Birkenhead:

https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/regenerating-birkenhead-2

However, the GREEN BELT IS STILL NOT SAFE! The Local Plan not only needs to show that there are enough Brownfield sites to meet the Target of 12000 house in 15 years, but the Local Plan must show that they are developable AND deliverable within the required timescales. The regeneration of Birkenhead proposes 21,000 homes in 20 years but this depends on many things such as infrastructure, obtaining the necessary grants and funding and cooperation with landowners. The Council still have work to do in ensuring that they can prove, to the Local Plan Inspector, that 12000 of those homes are developable and deliverable in the Local Plan period.

In addition, Green Belt Landowners and Developers will also be using their expensive legal teams and planning experts. They will try to convince the Local Plan Inspector that not all the Council’s plans are achievable or viable. They will pick over every detail of the Council’s proposals to try and discredit them. Then they will say that they have Green Belt land to meet the targets and that they are ready to go. This is why surveyors have been seen right across Wirral in recent weeks, surveying the Green Belt, ready to submit plans to the Local Plan Inspector.

Ultimately, it is not the Council who decides if Green belt will be released, but the Local Plan Inspector who will look at submissions and hear evidence from the Council AND the Landowners / Developers.

Therefore, it is important that the Wirral Green Space Alliance also have legal and planning representation at the Local Plan “Examination” so that we can dispute the ridiculously inflated housing target of 12000 homes and resist the Developers claims for Green Belt to be released.

Please donate to our legal fighting fund, please donate whatever you can afford, every pound donated really helps to save the Green Belt.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/savewirralsgreenbelt

Thanks for your support. Save the Green Belt, once it’s gone it’s gone forever!