The Leverhulme Estate wants to build 830 homes on Wirral’s green belt, claiming the new houses are “much needed”.
The estate owns thousands of acres of land, including Brimstage Hall Farm and residential and commercial properties across Wirral. Its founders were behind the development of Port Sunlight.
But now, Leverhulme has put forward plans for more than 800 homes on the green belt in places including Pensby, Irby and Heswall.
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A total of seven sites could be developed by Leverhulme, in plans which offer locals the opportunity to have their say on the seven consultations being launched today, one for each site.
The plans have attracted strong opposition locally, with an online petition against Leverhulme’s proposal gaining 3,832 signatures at the time of writing.
Leverhulme said its plans will create “much needed new homes” in “beautiful and sustainable communities” across Wirral.
Leverhulme also claims it wants to “create beautiful new places that are distinctively ‘Wirral’ and which deliver the right mix of house sizes and affordable housing to meet local needs.”
The seven sites:
- Land west of Barnston Road, north of Gills Lane. Includes proposals for up to 160 homes. Consultation here.
- Land east of Thorncroft Drive, Gills Lane, Pensby. Includes proposals for up to 15 homes. Consultation here.
- Land east of Dale View Close, north of Gills Lane, Pensby. Includes proposals for up to 100 homes. Consultation here.
- Land east of Glenwood Drive, Irby. Includes proposals for up to 310 homes. Consultation here.
- Land at Milner Road and Barnston Road, Heswall. Includes proposals for up to 120 homes. Consultation here.
- Land east of Raby Hall, Raby Hall Road, Raby Mere. Includes proposals for up to 85 homes. Consultation here.
- Land west of Raby Hall, Raby Hall Road, Raby Mere. Includes proposals for up to 40 homes. Consultation here.
Leverhulme said the new developments will feature leafy streets with generous open space, trees and gardens, as well as new cycleways and footpaths, enhanced biodiversity and habitats, among its benefits.
Nigel McGurk, head of land and planning for Leverhulme, said: “Wirral has a major requirement for a mix of new housing including three and four bedroom family homes and affordable housing.
“This shortfall has been made worse due to a lack of meaningful progress being made on preparing a deliverable and viable Local Plan in recent years.
“The development sites being brought forward by Leverhulme will make a significant contribution towards helping meet the market and affordable housing needs of the local area and the wider borough.”
Mr McGurk added: “Combined, the proposed Leverhulme sites can create beautiful and sustainable communities where people want to live.
“Port Sunlight and Thornton Hough are long-standing examples of sustainable communities and what can be achieved by combining the long-term stewardship offered by Leverhulme with a commitment to health and wellbeing and legacy development.”
