We demand Leverhulme Estates stop all active planning applications immediately and desist from further applications to build on Wirral’s green spaces. 

The ‘Leverhulme Vision’ is based on there being insufficient brownfield sites to support the number of residences required in the Local Plan. This is untrue, as shown by the Birkenhead regeneration plans which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aF7WSnlnsA and which are already underway. Leverhulme implies a continuing legacy from the first Lord Leverhulme. Not only does the title ‘Lord Leverhulme’ not exist, but none of the current directors were appointed prior to July 2017 or live within 200 miles of Birkenhead.

If the directors of Leverhulme estates (a company described as ‘Development of building projects’ in Companies House) genuinely want to bring benefit to the residents of Wirral, they will support the fight against climate change rather than accelerating it, act fairly towards their tenant farmers, stop trying to develop on the green lungs of our communities, and stop risking flooding of our houses. They will also stop diverting resources of the cash-strapped and hard-pressed Wirral Borough Council with speculative planning applications so that they can be used for more deserving services such as social care and children’s services

Instead, Leverhulme Estates and its directors could and/or should, inter alia:

·         Act fairly towards their tenant farmers by becoming good landlords and maintain their houses in a condition that would be acceptable for their own habitation

·         Act fairly towards their tenant farmers by removing the constant worry of their farms being taken away from them

·         Become a development partner in the regeneration of Wirral’s towns

·         Support the health of Wirral residents by maintaining green spaces and supporting the initiatives such as tree planting and wildflower hedgerows that will counteract climate change and protect the food chain.

·         Recognise the increasing flood risk on Wirral and mitigate against it rather than making it worse

·         Support the fight against climate change by allowing local farms to continue to produce food, so reducing food miles.

·         Support local community projects to enhance the quality of the villages we already have.