Welcome To Wirral

The Core Strategy DPD will not be site-specific but will include a Key Diagram to illustrate where its principal policies will apply. Other Local Development Documents, including site-specific land allocations, must be prepared in line with the Core Strategy DPD.

The Core Strategy DPD must be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent public examination.

Progress so far

Initial consultation on the Core Strategy DPD started in October 2005 and a series of public workshops were held in November 2006. Further work is being completed to obtain the views of some of the harder-to-reach groups, who did not respond to the earlier consultation and a final report of the findings of initial consultation is expected to be available in Summer 2007.

A number of detailed studies to strengthen the evidence base for the emerging Core Strategy are being undertaken, to look in more detail at issues such as housing and employment land, retailing and town centres, recreation and open space, social and community infrastructure, flood risk, wildlife and biodiversity and the potential impact on European designated sites. These studies are not expected to report until the early 2008.

Consultation on the scope of the sustainability appraisal for the Core Strategy was undertaken in July 2006.  The scope of the appraisal will be finalised in Summer 2007.

The next formal stage, the publication of an Issues and Options Report for public consultation, is now scheduled for September 2007.

Timetable

This link will take you to the timetable for the preparation of the Core Strategy from the Local Development Scheme approved by the Secretary of State in April 2007.

Further background information on the stages completed so far is set out below:

SEA determination

• Consultation on the need for an additional environmental report began in August 2005.  The Council has determined that an additional environmental report will be required.

• Final Determination

 

Sustainability Appraisal

The Council consulted on the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal for the Core Strategy in July 2006.  The final date for comments was 22 September 2006.

• Draft Scoping Report
• Appendix 1 - Review of Policies, Plans & Programmes
• Appendix 2 - Objectives, Decision Criteria & Indicators
• Appendix 3 - Appropriate Assessment Screening

Evidence Base

The Council invited comments on the information or sites that should be considered or assessed as part of the evidence base for the Core Strategy DPD in April 2007. The deadline for comments was 25 May 2007.

Consultation letter (PDF format)

Standard form for accompanying site-specific information (PDF format)

Initial Consultation

Initial consultation took place in Octoiber 2005.  The final date for consultation was 2 December 2006.  A series of public workshops were held in November 2006.

• Initial Consultation Letter
• Report of Initial Consultation - July 2006
• Second Report of Initial Consultation - expected Summer 2007