Leverhulme vows to continue with its vision, despite 788-home planning inquiry blow

Leverhulme Estate vowed to continue to promote its vision for deliverable, sustainable communities, after the Planning Inspectorate ruled against its plans for Wirral homes.

A public inquiry to hear Leverhulme’s appeals for seven applications refused by the council concluded in July this year.

It’s decision has now been delivered, dismissing all seven applications relating to around 110 acres of Green Belt land in Pensby, Irby, Greasby, Barnston, and Heswall as part of plans to deliver 788 homes through the ‘Leverhulme Vision’.

The seven appeal would have delivered around 300 affordable homes.

Nigel McGurk, head of planning and development for Leverhulme, said: “Leverhulme is disappointed with the decisions reached by the inspector.

“As part of our long term vision we wanted to make a significant and early contribution to the identified needs of Wirral, but the inspector has not supported this.

“The very real and deeply embedded issues facing Wirral regarding the chronic lack of housing supply, in particular the urgent requirement for family and affordable housing, remain the same, and will not simply go away.

“Unfortunately for those in need of housing, Wirral Council’s current trajectory will continue to fail to deliver the mix of housing that the borough requires.”

He added: “We will continue to promote the Leverhulme Vision for deliverable, sustainable communities, most immediately via the Local Plan process. We look forward to ultimately contributing to the acute housing needs of the borough.”

Leverhulme has one more appeal outstanding, for a 240-home scheme in Greasby, which it lodged in July this year following refusal by Wirral Council.

The proposals by Leverhulme, custodian to thousands of acres of land across Wirral and elsewhere, would have created family homes, flats and bungalows and 72 affordable homes east of Rigby Drive, in Greasby.

The council unanimously rejected plans for the 240-home scheme amid greenbelt concerns and fears for a Stone Age site said to be 6,000 years older than Stonehenge.

Opponents also submitted petitions of more than 6,000 signatures, saying the plans would put pressure on local services, pointing to a lack of public transport in Greasby.