Dear Supporters,

This is FANTASTIC news for the people of Wirral. What a great Xmas present to us all. The War is still NOT OVER YET, but this is ONE MORE BATTLE WON.  The High Court has REFUSED to give permission for Leverhulmes to apply for a “Planning Statutory Review” regarding their planning applications to build 800 houses on Green Belt in Irby, Pensby, Barnston, Heswall and Raby Mere.

Initially the Planning Applications for these sites were unanimously rejected by the Council (by democratically elected Councillors of all political parties). Leverhulmes then appealed to the Governments Planning Inspector and a Planning Inquiry took place, meaning that the Local Plan Examination in public had to be postponed while Leverhulmes had their inquiry.

The Planning Inspector rejected their appeal, stating that the proper place to decide if Green Belt should be built on was via the well advanced Local Plan. The Local Plan Examination resumed and we still await the Local Plan Inspectors decision.

Not satisfied with the Government Planning Inspectors decision,  Leverhulmes decided to try and throw their weight (and money) around and decided to take the Government Planning Inspector to Court (Secretary of State for Housing and Levelling up) with Wirral Council and the Wirral Green Space Alliance being cited as Defendents in the case.

It has already cost Wirral Council Tax Payer £362,000 to fight Leverhulmes appeal. Should Wirral Council then have to defend itself in the High Courts in London, then significant further costs would have been incurred.

Thankfully the High Court has seen sense and refused Leverhulmes (the Claimants) request to have a Planning Statutory Review in the High Court. Mrs Justice Lang agreed with the Planning Inspector, that Wirral’s Local Plan WAS in an advanced stage and that it would be PREMATURE to make decisions on the Green Belt which should be decided during the Local Plan process. To grant permission for Leverhulmes applications would “would undermine the (Local)  plan-making process.”

Mrs Justice Lang stated that Leverhulmes case was “unarguable” and did “not have a realistic prospect of success”. We understand that Leverhulmes have 7 days to decide whether to request for the decision to be reconsidered.

This is wonderful news for the Wirral Green Space Alliance who fought tirelessly to oppose Leverhulme Estates. Thankyou to all our supporters who helped with petitions, leafleting, letter writing and all the generous donations to our legal fighting fund.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas. Leverhulmes will still be hoping for Green Belt release via the Local Plan. Lets now hope for a “Brownfield Only” Local Plan to be confirmed by the Local Plan Inspector in 2024. That would then give us all a very Happy New Year indeed!