URGENT ACTION REQUIRED – LOCAL PLAN COMMENTS
Dear Supporter,
Thank you for supporting the Save Green Lane Green Belt campaign.
More than 3,300 people have now signed our petition, demonstrating the strength of feeling across Maghull and Lydiate about protecting our Green Belt, countryside and the future of our communities.
We now need your help again.
🚨 PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN LOCAL PLAN SUBMISSION
Sefton Council is currently consulting residents as it prepares the new Sefton Local Plan 2029–2044.
The deadline for comments is midnight on Friday 18 September 2026.
We are asking every person who has supported our petition to make their own individual submission to Sefton Council.
Signing our petition and submitting Local Plan comments are two separate things. The petition shows the strength of community feeling; your individual Local Plan response puts your own views and concerns directly before Sefton Council.
WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR MAGHULL & LYDIATE
The Local Plan will influence how Sefton approaches future development, including:
housing numbers and housing need
where development should take place
Green Belt
infrastructure
roads and traffic
schools
healthcare
flooding and drainage
wildlife and biodiversity
agricultural land
public transport
walking and cycling
climate and the environment
the character and future of our communities
This is particularly important for Green Lane, where an EIA Screening / outline planning application, DC/2026/01232, for up to 258 homes is currently progressing.
The proposed development would use West Meade as the main access, bringing significant additional traffic through an existing residential area and close to local schools.
Although the Local Plan process and the Green Lane planning application are separate processes, this is an important opportunity for residents to tell Sefton Council about the real conditions, constraints and impacts in our area.
💚 YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PLANNING EXPERT
You don't need to write a long letter and you don't have to comment on every category.
We have included an example response and a detailed Green Lane fact sheet below to help you.
Please use the information that is relevant to you, but wherever possible put it into your own words and include your own experiences.
For example:
Where do you experience traffic problems?
Do you use Green Lane for walking, cycling or recreation?
What do you think about the proposed West Meade access?
Have you experienced flooding or drainage problems?
What are your experiences of local schools, GPs or dentists?
What wildlife have you seen?
What does the Green Lane countryside mean to you and your family?
What would be lost if this farmland was developed?
Your own personal experience is important evidence.
📝 THREE WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS
1. ONLINE
Use Sefton Council's Local Plan consultation portal:
https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/planning/lp-scoping-consultation/
Scroll down and select "Share your views".
2. BY EMAIL
Send your comments to:
local.plan@sefton.gov.uk
3. BY POST
Planning Department
Magdalen House
Trinity Road
Bootle
L20 3NJ
Please include your name, address and postcode with your submission.
⏰ DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT – FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
Please don't assume that because you have signed our petition, your Local Plan response has been counted.
Please take a few minutes to make your own submission.
And please encourage your neighbours, family and friends in Maghull and Lydiate to do the same.
3,300+ people have already stood together to Save Green Lane.
Now we need those voices to be heard individually through the Local Plan consultation.
Thank you for your continued support.
Save Green Lane Green Belt Residents Campaign
APPENDIX – LOCAL PLAN RESPONSE GUIDE & GREEN LANE FACTS
HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION
The information below has been prepared to help residents make their own Local Plan comments.
You do not need to use everything.
Choose the points that are relevant to you and, wherever possible, add your own personal experience, observations and concerns.
The strongest submissions will be individual rather than identical copies.
EXAMPLE LOCAL PLAN RESPONSE
Please personalise this rather than simply copying it.
Ref: My Local Plan Submission
Name: [Your Name]
Address: [Your Full Address]
Postcode: [Postcode]
Date: [Date]
Dear Planning Officer,
I am making the following comments regarding Sefton's Local Plan 2029–2044 and object to any planned inclusion or allocation of the Green Lane, Maghull Green Belt agricultural land for development.
My concerns include the following:
Inappropriate development in the Green Belt
The Green Lane site consists of Green Belt land and is not allocated for residential development in the current Sefton Local Plan.
I believe the reasons why this site was previously considered unsuitable for development remain relevant, particularly the severe traffic and access constraints and the loss of high-grade agricultural land.
I therefore believe Green Lane should not be included as a future housing allocation in the Sefton Local Plan.
Infrastructure and services
Maghull has already experienced significant housing growth, including developments such as Eastbrook Village and Poppy Fields.
I am concerned that further large-scale development would place additional pressure on local schools, GP surgeries, dentists, roads, utilities and other services.
Traffic and highway safety
I am concerned about the existing congestion around Green Lane and the surrounding road network.
The proposed development of up to 258 homes, with West Meade as the main access, would introduce significant additional traffic into an existing residential area and close to schools.
I am concerned about the effect this would have on congestion, parking, pedestrian safety, cycling and air quality.
Flooding and drainage
The Green Lane fields and surrounding drainage network are important to the local area.
The drainage ditches at the bottom of the fields connect towards Dover and Maghull Brooks and ultimately the River Alt.
I am concerned that developing the fields and replacing permeable agricultural land with buildings, roads and hard surfaces would increase surface-water runoff and add to existing flood risks.
Agricultural land, biodiversity and the environment
The Green Lane fields are productive agricultural land and form part of the wider rural landscape around Maghull and Lydiate.
They also provide habitat for a range of wildlife and form part of a wider ecological network.
I believe the loss of this land should be given significant consideration when determining the future development strategy for Sefton.
Brownfield and existing housing
I believe Sefton should fully assess suitable brownfield and previously developed land, as well as empty properties that could potentially be brought back into use, before releasing Green Belt and productive agricultural land for housing.
For these reasons, I ask Sefton Council to take my comments into consideration when preparing the Local Plan and, specifically, not to allocate the Green Lane Green Belt site for housing development.
Yours sincerely,
[Name]
GREEN LANE – FACTS & REASONS TO CONSIDER IN YOUR RESPONSE
1. GREEN BELT
The Green Lane site is Green Belt agricultural land and was not included for residential development in the current Local Plan.
Your fact sheet records that, during the previous Local Plan process, Sefton Council identified Green Lane as the "Most Constrained Site in Maghull", with the Planning Inspectorate identifying severe traffic and access constraintsand considering the loss of high-grade arable farmland highly undesirable.
You could explain in your own words why you believe those constraints still exist today.
2. VISION FOR MAGHULL & LYDIATE
What do you want Maghull and Lydiate to look and feel like in the future?
The campaign's vision is for a "Green Sefton", protecting the rural character of the area rather than continually urbanising farmland.
One phrase in the fact sheet sums this up:
"Bricks on Brown Belt and Grains on Green."
You could explain what the countryside and Green Lane mean to you personally.
3. HOUSING NEED & HOUSING GROWTH
The fact sheet estimates that if all proposed sites in Maghull and Lydiate were developed, this could result in approximately 4,000 additional homes, representing approximately 30% growth in existing housing stock.
It also raises concerns about the affordability of new homes, noting that the cheapest new homes in Maghull are over £200,000, and questions whether this represents genuine affordability for local residents.
You can comment on whether you believe this scale of growth is appropriate and whether it will genuinely meet local housing needs.
4. INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT & UTILITIES
There are concerns about the ability of existing infrastructure to accommodate further development.
The Green Lane evidence identifies:
existing road constraints
pedestrian and cycling concerns
school traffic
drainage
utilities
public transport
pressure from additional housing
The proposed road changes would also involve removal of existing hedgerows and trees and the creation of a wider road and cycleway along Green Lane.
5. TRAFFIC & HIGHWAY SAFETY
The fact sheet identifies a number of existing constraints.
At the top of Green Lane, there is a pinch point at the roundabout where only one vehicle can pass at a time.
The evidence notes that children currently cross this area on their way to school and raises concerns about the effect of a major increase in traffic associated with 258 homes.
The Green Lane route also accommodates agricultural vehicles accessing surrounding farmland.
The other side of the Green Lane loop includes the canal swing bridge, which has one-way traffic, pedestrian priority and weight restrictions.
The fact sheet records that when the swing bridge is open for canal traffic, queues can build back onto Green Lane and Liverpool Road North.
If you personally experience these traffic problems, explain when and where they occur.
6. SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
The evidence identifies the two local primary schools as being at capacity and raises concerns about additional school-run traffic and pedestrian safety.
The proposed West Meade access would pass through an area where children currently walk and cycle to school.
The evidence raises particular concerns about the effect of hundreds of additional vehicle movements on children crossing West Meade and the surrounding roads.
7. HEALTHCARE
The fact sheet raises concerns about capacity at local GP surgeries, the Health Centre and dentists, stating that these services are not currently taking on additional patients.
It also raises concerns about the distance and parking provision associated with potential future healthcare provision.
If you have your own experience of difficulties accessing GP or dental services, include it.
8. TOWN CENTRES & ACCESS TO SERVICES
The evidence records the following distances from the Green Lane site:
nearest rail station – approximately 4,000m
local shopping centre – approximately 1,200m
leisure centre – approximately 1,200m
site not adjacent to a primary route network road
site not within 400m of a frequent bus route
The evidence argues that these distances could increase reliance on private cars and put further pressure on the local road network.
9. BROWNFIELD & EXISTING HOUSING
The campaign's position is that Green Belt should remain protected and that suitable alternatives should be properly assessed first.
The fact sheet calls for:
empty properties across Sefton to be identified and assessed
suitable empty homes to be renovated and brought back into use
brownfield and previously developed land to be fully assessed
land already benefiting from planning consent to be considered
Green Belt land to remain protected.
You can explain why you believe development should be directed towards previously developed land before Green Belt.
10. AGRICULTURAL LAND & FOOD SECURITY
The Green Lane fields are actively farmed and the evidence describes them as Best and Most Versatile agricultural land.
The campaign evidence records that the field has recently produced an oat crop and gives an indication of the substantial food production possible from this land.
The evidence also highlights concerns about increasing food insecurity, climate change and the UK's reliance on imported food.
It records that Sefton contains a significant amount of BMV agricultural soil and argues that this national agricultural resource should be protected.
11. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY
The evidence identifies a significant range of wildlife associated with the fields.
A wintering bird survey undertaken between November 2025 and March 2026 recorded 45 different species, including 26 species of conservation concern.
The evidence also identifies use of the fields by:
Short-eared owls
Barn owls
bats
pink-footed geese
red kites
water voles
stoats
voles
shrews
field mice
The existing hedgerows are described as wildlife and ecological corridors.
If you have personally seen wildlife on or around the fields, include what you have seen and where.
12. FLOODING, DRAINAGE & WATER MANAGEMENT
Flooding and drainage are important issues for Green Lane.
The evidence describes the River Alt as being only a short distance from Green Lane, with drainage ditches connecting through Maghull Brook.
It also describes local flooding following heavy rainfall and explains the importance of the wider Lunt Meadows floodplain and flood defence system in protecting vulnerable homes.
The evidence states that the Green Lane fields have areas which flood following heavy rainfall and that the area's high water table is a significant concern.
The campaign evidence also raises concerns about the cumulative impact of additional development across the Alt catchment.
If you have experienced flooding, standing water, blocked drainage or water backing up in the area, please describe your own experience.
13. CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT
The evidence argues that the existing agricultural soil provides important environmental functions, including holding water and storing carbon.
It records that the Green Lane land is low lying and has a high water table, increasing concerns about the consequences of replacing permeable agricultural soil with buildings, roads and hard surfaces.
You can explain why you believe climate resilience, drainage, biodiversity and the retention of natural land should be considered when deciding where future development should take place.
14. HEALTH, WELLBEING & RECREATION
Green Lane is used by residents for:
walking
cycling
running
dog walking
family walks
walking children to school
accessing the Cheshire Lines Path
accessing wider countryside and walking routes
The evidence describes Green Lane as a peaceful route and an important gateway to the wider countryside.
Tell Sefton what Green Lane means to you personally.
Even a short paragraph about why you walk there, cycle there, exercise there or enjoy the countryside can make your response personal.
15. HERITAGE & LOCAL CHARACTER
The evidence identifies several historic sites and features around Green Lane, including:
Peel Farm
the historic Peel Hey / Peele Fields area
a crop mark identified through aerial photography
Maukin Farm, dating to the 18th century with evidence of earlier occupation
the historic Green Lane House site.
The evidence also notes that Sefton Council has previously indicated that archaeological examination/excavation would be required before development at the relevant site.
16. THE CHARACTER OF GREEN PARK
Green Park Estate was developed around 1973 and was designed with a low-density, open-plan layout intended to blend with the surrounding countryside.
The evidence argues that the proposed development would significantly alter this relationship by introducing a much higher-density housing development and a major traffic route through West Meade.
Residents living around Green Park may wish to explain how the existing relationship between the estate and the Green Lane countryside affects their quality of life.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – MAKE IT YOUR OWN
You do not need to use every fact above.
Choose the issues that matter most to you.
A short response containing your own experience plus two or three relevant facts is far more useful than simply copying a long template.
For example:
"I live in Green Park and walk my children to school along West Meade. I am concerned that making West Meade the main access for 258 homes would introduce a significant amount of additional traffic onto a road already heavily congested at school times. I believe the Council needs to consider the safety of children walking and cycling to school before identifying Green Lane as a potential housing site."
That is your voice, your experience and your evidence.
💚 PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE:
MIDNIGHT – FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
Thank you for helping us Save Green Lane Green Belt.