The Planning Inspectorate has revealed that the timetable for their hearings on Wirral's Local Plan was agreed by the Council's leadership.
There had been concerns that the hearings were being delayed in order to give priority to the appeals by Leverhulme Estates to build on Green Belt in Wirral South.
On 20 March, Councillor Vida Wilson, along with councillors from across the political spectrum, backed a call by the Labour Group that stated:
"Council also notes that the Planning Committee’s decision to refuse planning permission has been appealed by Leverhulme and is therefore dismayed and concerned that the Planning Inspectorate has made a decision to begin a public Inquiry on the Leverhulme appeals starting on the 16 May 2023 which will result in the Local Plan examination being paused."
Now, after the elections and in response to the vote by Councillors on 20 March, the Planning Inspectorate has replied:
'Once the appeal inquiry had been confirmed, Wirral Council officers informed us that the Local Plan hearings and the Leverhulme Inquiry could not be held at the same time, due to resource implications for staffing and accommodation.'
Councillor Vida Wilson said: "We have developers from outside Wirral gagging to build on our Green Belt. In Saughall Massie alone, three developers want to build 1,011 houses on land around the Conservation Area.
"In March, the then-leader of the Council told us this delay in adopting the Local Plan to protect our Green Belt was due to the independent Planning Inspectorate. Now, we learn that there has been no delay."
The Planning Inspector has also confirmed that:
There is no pause in the examination. Although hearing sessions might not be being held between mid-May and September, the Inspectors are very much continuing with the examination of the Plan. The Council and representators will also be preparing for the second block of hearing sessions. The breaking up of hearing sessions into different blocks is quite common in Local Plan examinations."
Vida added: "The Local Plan Inquiry resumes on 12 September, as planned. The Council has employed a barrister to challenge and oppose these proposals.
"At the same time, a recent report by the House of Commons Library confirms that Wirral has added 5,214 new homes in the last 10 years.
"Together with the proposals in the draft Local Plan (to develop the run down areas of our Borough and not Green Belt), I believe this gives us extra evidence in support of our work to protect the Green Belt."
