Leverhulme withdraws Greasby appeal, but remains committed to its housing plans
Leverhulme Estates has withdrawn an appeal against Wirral Council’s decision earlier this year to refuse planning permission for its 240-home scheme in Greasby.
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.
It launched its appeal in July.
It was also pursuing seven other appeals over the council’s refusal of planning permission for its Wirral schemes, but these were thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate earlier this month.
The seven applications related 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 appeals would have delivered around 300 affordable homes.
Its Greasby appeal was still outstanding, but it revealed this morning (September 21) that it has decided to withdraw the appeal.
Nigel McGurk, head of planning and development for Leverhulme, said: “Further to last week’s Inspector’s decisions, it is clear that addressing the matters relating to Wirral’s absence of a deliverable Local Plan is the immediate priority for Leverhulme in providing much needed new homes.
“The decision to withdraw Leverhulme’s appeal regarding Wirral Council’s refusal of its Greasby application is in line with this position.
“While we are disappointed not to be able to pursue this appeal at this stage, Leverhulme will continue to work with others to highlight the urgent need for the delivery of housing in Wirral, where there has been little sign of a viable, deliverable Local Plan for decades.”
He added: “Leverhulme will also be reviewing the Inspector’s appeal decisions over the coming weeks, considering various options.
“We remain fully committed to playing our part in addressing Wirral’s acute housing shortage – especially family and affordable homes – in a realistic and deliverable manner.”
