Leverhulme’s have launched a pre-planning application public consultation for 7 sites across the Wirral where they propose to build 830 houses on Green Belt.
They are asking the public to “contribute their ideas”. They state that they will use the comments to “ Develop a Statement of Community Consultation (or similar document) about this public consultation that will be submitted to the planning authority or similar body” A “similar body” may be a Planning Inspector which may indicate they intend to appeal a refusal of Planning Permission by Wirral Council
Responding to Leverhulmes Consultation Proposals
If you click on the relevant link you will be taken to a virtual room with virtual display boards full of PR Spin and Marketing “green-washing” with which they hope to convince you that their “vision” is a sustainable once in a life time opportunity that will bring amazing benefits to everyone. What it is, in fact, is a cynical ploy to convince people that building on the Green Belt is a good thing (because they will make vast profits from it.)
We would advise you to respond to the Consultation as follows:
· Fill in the minimum amount of required personal information that will allow you to proceed. (i.e. name, post code, age) DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR ADDRESS EMAIL OR TELEPHONE No.– they would use this to contact your further to discuss your comments
· DO NOT ANSWER their questions no.s 1-4 – these are leading questions designed to give the answers that they want to hear. They will be used by Leverhulmes to manipulate their planning application. They will state that they have consulted with the Local Community and that the Local Community have indicated (via these questions) that the houses and sustainable / community “benefits” that Leverhulme’s propose are very much wanted by the Local Community
· DO COMPLETE QUESTION 5 with your own personal comments and observations as you feel appropriate. If you wish to echo the comments of the Wirral Green Space Alliance, here are some suggestions of points which you may wish to raise…
Suggested comments for question 5 could include:
o These homes are not “much needed”, what is needed is to improve the existing homes and communities in the Wirral. New sustainable homes should be built in sustainable locations not on our precious Green Belt
o The latest expert advice is that there is a NEED for less than 4,000 additional new homes over 15 years on the Wirral NOT 12,000+ called for by the developers.
o Building homes on the Green Belt is NOT “environmentally friendly”
o We need our Green Belt to mitigate against the impending Climate Disaster – building on the Green Belt at such a time is utter madness
o With the effects of Covid, Brexit, War in Eastern Europe etc we need our farmlands and green spaces more than ever to produce sustainable food crops and improve wellbeing.
o New small areas of public green space and play areas will not make up for the large areas of green fields that will be destroyed for these housing estates.
o We support the principle of the Councils’ Emerging Local Plan which is for Brownfield only developments focusing on regenerating the areas of the Wirral which most needs developing (i.e. the East of the Wirral, Birkenhead, Docklands etc)
o We need genuinely “affordable” homes to be built in areas where they will be truly affordable and not at just 80% of the market value of homes in more expensive areas.
o Destroying beautiful landscapes, green fields and homes for wildlife and replacing it with profitable housing estates is NOT “delivering beautiful new places”
o Leverhulme is NOT “the only partner capable of creating beautiful new neighbourhoods in Wirral”. Peel in conjunction with Urban Splash and the Council are working to create new neighbourhoods on Brownfield Land in Birkenhead.
o Constructing new highways and housing estates will not relieve congestion but simply increase traffic
o Leverhulme state that they recognize “the important role that green space has in our communities” – so why are they determined to destroy it?
Follow the links below to comment:
120 Houses West of Barnston Road North of Milner Road
https://heswall.consultationonline.co.uk/
100 houses Gills Lane west, Pensby
https://gillswest.consultationonline.co.uk/
15 houses Gills Lane Central
https://gillscentral.consultationonline.co.uk/
160 houses Gills Lane East
https://gillseast.consultationonline.co.uk/
310 house, Glenwood Drive, Irby
https://glenwooddrive.consultationonline.co.uk/
85 houses East of Raby Hall
https://rabyeast.consultationonline.co.uk/
40 houses west of Raby Hall
https://rabywest.consultationonline.co.uk/
Thank you for your help and support
Once the Green Belt has gone it is Gone Forever!