Wirral’s Draft Local Plan handed to Government
Wirral Council has submitted its new Draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State for its Independent Examination.
This is a major and important milestone for the Borough which will provide an up-to-date planning framework for Wirral.
The Local Plan is important for showing where various types of development will be located to meet future needs, and therefore where resources and enhanced or new infrastructure such as walking and cycling links, or new schools are needed.
The plan will also ensure that Wirral protects its fantastic built heritage, its Green Belt and outstanding natural environment.
It has taken more than three years of intense work to reach this point in the Plan’s development and has involved extensive consultation at two key stages. The Draft Local Plan is based on the Council’s preferred strategy for meeting its development needs within existing urban areas and through the regeneration of brownfield sites and the comprehensive regeneration of Birkenhead in particular based on the Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework.
Following on from this Wirral’s Local Plan will be the foundation for the regeneration of the ‘LeftBank’ of the River Mersey, from New Ferry through Birkenhead including the Wirral Waters dockland area, Seacombe, Liscard and New Brighton and help in addressing social and economic deprivation in parts of Wirral.
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Janette Williamson, said: “This draft Local Plan will set out the future direction of Wirral’s ambitious regeneration plans while ensuring we protect our precious Green Belt and green spaces. This is more than a planning document, this is a roadmap for Wirral’s future, outlining our vision of how our borough can fulfil its potential and showing how it will meet the needs of residents and businesses over the next 15 years.”
Cllr Tony Jones, chair of Wirral Council’s Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee, said: “The submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State is a key moment in the development of our borough and a major step towards helping us in achieving our regeneration ambitions.”
Following the submission the next stage will see the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities appoint an independent planning inspector(s) to undertake the Independent Examination into the soundness and legal compliance of the Plan. Further information and updates on the Examination can be found on the Local Plan Examination Web site https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/local-plan-examination
Every Local Planning Authority should have an up-to-date Local Plan in place and review it at least every five years. The Government has a target for all Local Planning Authorities to have up to date Local Plans in place by 2023.
