Housing developer calls on council for swift decision on housing and sports scheme

Elan Homes, the Ellesmere Port-based developer, has urged Wirral Council to speed up its consideration of two related planning applications.

It said it wants a decision “at the earliest possible opportunity” on its proposal for 104 new homes on the site of the failed former Octel Sports Club in Bromborough, and its aim to provide significant investment in local sports facilities.

Advisers to Elan Homes are clear that the former Octel Sports Club site provides Wirral Council with the opportunity to build new housing on a site which is not in the Green Belt, at a time when the new government is suggesting that the authority needs to increase the number of new homes it builds each year by more than a thousand, from 728 units to 1,755 per annum.

Elan said the proposals represent an ideal example of repurposing of a redundant site within the urban setting to create new homes, together with some fantastic sport and community assets, with no impact on the Green Belt.

The potential for residential development on the former Octel Club site was originally discussed with Wirral Council more than four years ago, and the initial planning application was withdrawn and revised following feedback from planning officers and Sport England.

The current planning applications were submitted in early 2023. They propose new homes and the replacement of sports facilities with new football pitches at the former Prices Sports Club at Bromborough Pool, alongside the derelict building on the site being refurbished and brought back into community use by Bromborough & Eastham Junior Football Club, with all works procured and funded by the developer of the Octel site.

Further financial contributions to secure improvements to local cricket, tennis and bowls facilities are also proposed.

Development of the former Octel Club site would provide a mix of new housing, including apartments, semi-detached and detached family homes from two- to five-bedrooms.

Twenty one homes will be designated as affordable housing, available either as rented or shared ownership properties.

Bromborough & Eastham Junior Football Club will operate and manage the facility to serve the club’s 600 local boy and girl members aged between four and 16.

The club, with 35 registered teams, actively promotes junior football, including participation in various leagues.

If planning is approved at both sites, the derelict former Prices Club building at Pool Lane in Bromborough Pool will be transformed into a community centre with multi-functional spaces and changing rooms.

External works include the creation of two new sports pitches, tree and hedge planting, and additional parking.

The club facilities at Bromborough Pool will also be available for community to hire when not in use by the club.

In addition to the replacement facilities at Bromborough Pool, an overall sports mitigation package proposes developer contributions to benefit a variety of other sports in Wirral including cricket, tennis and bowling.

An Elan Homes spokesperson said: “Since 2020, we have worked positively with

Wirral Council to bring forward new housing on the former Octel Club site and improve sports facilities elsewhere in the area.

“We have responded to requests from both the local authority and Sport England to address matters raised during the planning process. This resulted in revised proposals being submitted almost 18 months ago.

“Elan Homes is now asking that the two planning applications are taken to planning committee for a decision at the earliest possible opportunity.”

They added: “We believe that approval of the two planning applications will enable the council to satisfy demand for new housing in the short term, reducing the pressure for Green Belt land to be released for development and addressing the recognised need for dedicated local sports facilities.

“As we are nearing the final stages of the planning application process, we believe the swift granting of approval of the linked schemes would send a clear message that Wirral Council has the ability to work with local landowners and developers to deliver much needed housing on sites not yet included in their draft Local Plan, thus mitigating the latest pressures on Green Belt release.”