Proposals to build 276 houses on Green Belt land along Saughall Massie Road have been submitted by agents acting for Bloor Homes, as part of the review of Wirral Council's long-delayed Local Plan.
Local Conservative Councillors voted for the draft Local Plan as it retains the Green Belt land around Saughall Massie and Greasby. As part of the legal process for the Local Plan to be 'adopted', counter proposals and objections could be submitted, prior to it all being reviewed.
The Local Plan is now at this 'review' stage and the various counter proposals have been revealed. In February, local Councillor Vida Wilson, along with Colin Baldwin and Gary Bennett, reported on the the counter proposals made by Taylor Wimpey (for land off Saughall Road) and Russell Homes (for land near Woodpecker Close to Pump Lane).
This third proposal by Bloor Homes would see 276 houses built on the remaining Green Belt land along Saughall Massie Road.
The agents acting for Bloor Homes describe the land as:
The site measures 12.7 hectares in irregular in shape, on the western edge of Greasby. The site is currently used for pastureland, with a stabling block and grazing paddocks to the west.
The site is relatively flat, with a regular field pattern delineated by native hedgerows and Arrowe Brook running along the eastern/south-eastern boundary. There is a small pocket of mature trees in the north-eastern parcel, otherwise trees are limited to the southern boundary, mixed within the hedgerow. The site boundaries comprise of continuous native hedging planted aside a post and rail fence on the northern and western boundaries, whilst Greasby and Arrowe Brook form the eastern and southern boundaries, with heavy planting and mature treeline along the edges of Greasby Brook.
In total, it means that 1,011 houses would be built on the Green Belt between Saughall Massie and Greasby.
Councillor Vida Wilson said: "The agents description of this land actually proves why it must, instead, be protected. Hedgerows, mature trees and pastureland are of great importance to the local environment and must not be lost at this late stage of the Local Plan. No doubt this development would be valuable to Bloor Homes but the Green Belt is valuable to the local community.
"If the Town Hall hadn't dithered and delayed and if Labour Councillors in 2019 hadn't supported developing this land, I doubt if we would be at this stage now.
"From the many conversations that Colin, Gary and I have had with residents, we know we must fight to retain the Green Belt land at Saughall Massie. 1,011 houses would change this community forever, and not for the better."
Read the counter proposals by Bloor Homes by clicking on the link below and our 'Q&A' on the Saughall Massie Green Belt here
