Woman with family in Heswall drives from France to join opposition to Leverhulme building plan

A mum drove 18 hours from the south of France to join more than 100 protesters as a controversial application for 290 homes was rejected.

Wirral Council rejected the huge planning application on land near Irby across an area the size of more than 20 football fields with "some of the highest quality agricultural land in the country."

The application was the seventh by the Leverhulme Estate as part of its plans to build 1,000 homes across west Wirral. Thousands of residents as well as councillors and local MPs have opposed the plans which would be built on the green belt.

Those opposed argue the homes would harm the countryside in west Wirral, which they believe to be characteristic to the area and unnecessary because of housing developments in places like Birkenhead.

Leverhulme Estate said it wanted these homes to "establish neighbourhoods which are distinctively Wirral with a beautiful and bespoke character" but no representatives attended the meeting to argue for the application.

In the application, Leverhulme argued the houses will "create beautiful places which enhance their surroundings" on "leafy streets with generous gardens" and "has the potential to offer a highly attractive living environment."

A report for the meeting showed 337 letters objecting and two petitions with over 1,600 signatures against this specific application. Six other applications were rejected by officers last week but this application went to committee because it was for more than 200 homes.

Chair Stuart Kelly criticised Leverhulme for not making their case and giving councillors the chance to ask questions and challenge them, adding "the developers have brought nothing to us."

Before moving the committee to vote against, Cllr Kelly said the countryside was characteristic of the area, adding "one of the wonderful things about Wirral is that you can build warships on the east bank and grow vegetables in the west."

He said the applications would undermine plans to build houses in Birkenhead as part of regeneration projects there in a "wholly unforgivable way. The regeneration of Birkenhead is more important than the bottom line of any developer"

The decision to refuse was unanimous with every councillor who spoke criticising the plans. The decisions will become official when they are posted tomorrow on October 28.

The packed committee meeting - Picture: Ed Barnes

Mike Collins, a councillor for Pensby and Thingwall, spoke against the application. He has repeatedly asked Leverhulme to meet with people in person instead of using online consultations.

Asking councillors to vote against, he said: "We need to grow food, not houses. The land of the Wirral is high quality. Do we want to lose high quality agricultural land forever?" and said the houses would "destroy the distinctive character of the area."

Alison Glascott, who got more than 1,600 people to sign the petitions, said the houses would make traffic, flooding and pollution worse and put 400 to 500 more cars on the road as the area has only one bus route and no train station. She also said there was evidence of a Roman road and settlement on the site.

Cllr Steve Foulkes praised the speeches made. He explained those on the committee "have to devoid ourselves of some of the emotion and stick to the hard and fast planning issues. The reason for that is that the applicant could appeal and we need to stick to our material considerations."

He spoke against the application, adding "we will be in a good position to defend the reasons for refusal if it comes to an appeal."

Approximately 120 people were in attendance. Vicky Shephard, who has family in Heswall, even drove 18 hours up from southern France to attend the meeting with her two children.

Leverhulme Estate has the right to appeal the decisions on any of its applications for 788 homes in total. Two other applications for a green new space and 240 homes near Greasby are currently being considered by the council.

Ms Shephard said she loves visiting the countryside in Wirral and plans to make the trip again for the decision on the application for 240 homes and if Leverhulme decides to appeal.