The Wirral Local Plan is now in the final stages before it can be ‘Adopted’ and become the legally binding development plan for Wirral, to which all development in the Borough must adhere up to 2040.  

After a long ‘Examination in Public’, when many parties, including WGSA (Wirral Green Space Alliance of 30+ Groups), presented their detailed case for the Plan’s contents, the Independent Inspectors have concluded that the Plan can be found to be ‘SOUND’, namely that it is based on a strategy which meets 

objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements. 

As is normal, at the end of this lengthy ‘Examination’, involving scrutinising the 370-page 

Submission Draft Plan and supporting documents, the Council and Inspectors have agreed 

‘Modifications’ to some of the details and text. The STRATEGY is a Local Plan based upon ‘Regeneration’ with limited development within existing urban areas but with NIL RELEASE OF GREEN BELT.

This is a considerable achievement, a first we understand for a Local Plan, and one which seeks to tackle and reduce inequalities, to enable all communities to thrive whilst preserving green spaces.

Changes prompted by the Inspectors are called ‘Main Modifications’ (MMs) and those by the Council ‘Additional Modifications’ (AMs).  Only the MMs are required to make the Local Plan both ‘Legally Compliant’ and ‘SOUND’, although comments are invited on either or both categories.

BUT, there are still those wanting to build on Green Belt, so we need your help once more.

So we need as many people as possible to respond to this last stage Consultation.

The full Consultation Documents involves hundreds of largely technical pages and 321 Modifications.  

We do not consider it practical for most Members or the Public to wade through all this information and respond using the 8-page online Response Form to each edit.  WGSA and ITPAS have reviewed all documents and supports the Plan proceeding as modified.  We will be expressing support but also commenting where we suggest some preferred wording or to point out the odd omission.

So, we have provided a simplified sample response HERE 

containing critical items using a word document. 

Please use the form in full and / or amend to form one’s own wording.

Send the completed response form to 

localplan@wirral.gov.uk

BUT . . .

THIS NEEDS DOING BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF 

5PM on FRIDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2024.

You can view the full documentation for the Consultation through this LINK :

https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/local-plans-and-planning-policy/wirrals-new-local-plan/new-local-plan