A plan that will be used to guide the development of Wirral until 2037 has reached a key milestone and is now open to feedback from people and businesses based in the borough.
A draft of the New Local Plan has been published today by Wirral council to allow it to be scrutinised by those with interests in the borough. The plan is a guideline that will determine the size and shape of growth in the Wirral until 2037, as the council looks to introduce over 13,000 new homes in that time- with at least 5,000 before 2026.
At the heart of the plan is the regeneration of the 'Leftbank' of the River Mersey. Places such as New Ferry, Birkenhead and Seacombe will be focused on specifically as part of this to address social and economic depravation.
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Wirral council predicts that the borough will grow by 6% during the timeline of the plan, hence the need for new homes and an estimated 49 hectares of land required for new jobs. The plan will also outline how Wirral's 'fantastic built heritage', 'outstanding natural environment' and its green belt land will be protected during the expansion.
Alan Evans, Wirral Council’s Director of Regeneration and Place, said: “Following the initial consultation when there was widespread opposition to Green Belt release and a desire to focus on urban regeneration we have used this opportunity to focus on major regeneration across Wirral’s LeftBank to help us achieve our housing and other development needs.
“No Green Belt release is proposed. At the heart of the Plan is the regeneration of the eastern side of the Borough. In particular, the plan includes proposals for the comprehensive regeneration of Birkenhead based on the Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework.”
The council invites 'local communities, businesses and other interested stakeholders' to make formal representations (comments) on the draft of the local plan that was published today. Once the period for formal representations is over, on June 24, the council will collate all feedback before submitting them along with the plan to government.
The Secretary of state for Levelling up, Housing and Communities will then appoint an inspector to carry out an independent examination, which is due to take place this autumn.
Guidance on how to make a representation is available at www.wirral.gov.uk/newlocalplan and in all libraries in the Wirral.
