Wirral Council refused eight planning applications from Leverhulme affecting locations in the Barnston, Pensby, Heswall, Raby Mere, Greasby, Irby and Frankby areas.
Leverhulme subsequently submitted appeals against seven of those applications and a public inquiry took place between May and July 2023. The Planning Inspectorate have dismissed these appeals and the decision letter can be viewed using the links at the bottom of this page.
Leverhulme have now submitted a further appeal against the eighth planning application (council reference OUT/22/01821- Land East of Rigby Drive, Greasby) and a second public inquiry is due to take place in December 2023.
The planning appeals are organised by the Planning Inspectorate which is an independent agency set up by the government. Guidance is provided below on the processes and how to take part in the inquiry.
Leverhulme Planning Appeals - Inquiry Website
The most up-to-date information about the second Public Inquiry (due to open in December 2023) can be found on the dedicated Leverhulme Inquiry website.
View the Leverhulme Inquiry website
Please see link at the bottom of this page to the Leverhulme website for the first Public Inquiry that took place in May to July 2023.
View Livestreams and Recordings of the Leverhulme Inquiry
For each day of the Inquiry, you will be able to watch proceedings via a livestream on the council's webcast portal. A recording of each livestream will be made available after the end of each session.
Please note, recordings may take up to 48 hours to appear on the Webcast Portal.
View the council's webcast portal
Letters regarding Wirral Council's request for determination of planning appeals by the Secretary of State
Guidance on Leverhulme appeals
How do I find documentation for the planning application next to where I live?
A list of all planning applications subject of the appeal is available below. All appeal documents are stored against each application on the council’s website. A link to those documents can also be found below.
I submitted comments to the council when the planning applications were being determined. Will these comments be taken into account by the Planning Inspectorate?
Yes. All comments submitted during the application stage will be sent by the council to the Planning Inspectorate and to the Appellant. You do not need to repeat the same comments. Only submit further comments if you have something new or different to say.
Where and when will the public inquiry take place?
Please refer to the inquiry website for the most up-to-date inquiry programme.
View the Leverhulme Inquiry Website
Who is responsible for organising and running the appeals and public inquiry?
The Planning Inspectorate is an independent agency set up by central government to deal with a wide variety of planning appeals, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialist casework in England. The Planning Inspectorate set the rules and procedures for Public Inquiries.
The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Read further information about the Planning Inspectorate on GOV.UK
How can I take part in the inquiry?
If you want to speak at the inquiry, you must tell the Inspector at the start of the inquiry.
Where can I find further information about the appeals process?
Read about the appeals process on GOV.UK
How can the Planning Inspectorate hold this public inquiry when the hearings into the local plan haven’t taken place yet?
The public inquiry into the Leverhulme appeals and the hearings into the local plan are two separate processes although they will clearly cover very similar grounds. It will be for the relevant Planning Inspectors to consider how they take account of the material presented to them.
When do you expect the dates for the local plan hearings to be announced?
Information about the hearings, including the dates for the hearing sessions, can be found on the council's Hearing Information page:
View the Hearings Information page
Planning Application subject of the Public Inquiry due to take place in December 2023
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Council Application Reference |
Location |
3P - Proposal |
Planning Inspector Appeal reference |
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OUT/22/01821 https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=226903 |
Land East of Rigby Drive, Greasby, Frankby and Irby |
Residential development for up to 240 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing; a ‘park and stride’ car park; improved walking and cycling links; a community orchard; a community park and children’s play area; wildlife habitats and green corridors; and off-site highway, environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements. |
3327219 |
List of Planning Applications subject of the first Public Inquiry that took place in May to July 2023
The public inquiry in relation to the applications below is now closed and the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the appeals. A copy of the decision letter is uploaded to the council's website against each of the planning applications listed below. Please click on the council application reference to see the application and appeal documents.
The appeal relating to planning application APP/22/01502 was withdrawn by the appellant.
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Council Application Reference |
Location |
3P - Proposal |
Planning Inspector Appeal reference |
|
Land West Of Barnston Road, |
Creation of a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) development of 22.6 hectares including boundary works and means for access and parking; biodiversity enhancements to hedgerows, meadows/grasslands, field ponds and woodlands; creation of green infrastructure and footpaths; creation of wildlife habitats; and off-site highway works. |
3313726 (Lead Appeal reference) |
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Land East Of Raby Hall Raby Road, Raby, Wirral, |
Residential development for up to 80 dwellings (Use Class C) including 30% affordable housing. Delivery of green infrastructure including a new open green space and play area, wildlife habitats and green corridors and offsite environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancement (outline application with all matters reserved, except for access) |
3313777 |
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Land East Of Glenwood Drive, Irby, CH63 1JD |
Outline Planning Application for residential development for up to 290 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing and 10% self-build / custom build properties; delivery of part of the Borough’s cycle supergreenway; green infrastructure including sports pitches, play areas and parkland, wildlife habitats and green corridors; and off-site highway, environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements (Outline application with all matters reserved except for access). |
3313729 |
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Land Land West Of Raby Hall, Raby Road, Raby Mere, CH60 0NN |
Residential development for up to 38 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing; safeguarded land for the expansion of Autism Together facilities; delivery of green infrastructure including a new pocket park and play area, wildlife habitats and green corridors; and off-site environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements, including an off-road pedestrian and cycle connection between the site and Blakeley Road (Outline application with all matters reserved except for access). |
3313775 |
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Land West Of Barnston Road, North Of Gills Lane , Wirral , |
Residential development for up to 153 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing; delivery of green infrastructure including a new public park and play area, wildlife habitats and green corridors; and off-site highway, environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements (Outline application with all matters reserved except for access). |
3313741 |
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Land At Milner Road And Barnston Road, Wirral, |
Residential development for up to 120 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing and 10% self-build/custom build properties; delivery of part of the Borough’s cycle supergreenway; green infrastructure including a new public park and play area, community orchard, wildlife habitats and green corridors; and off-site highway, environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements (Outline application with all matters reserved except for access). |
3313743 |
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Land East Of Dale View Close, North Of Gills Lane, Pensby , |
Residential development for up to 92 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing; delivery of green infrastructure including a new public open space and play area, wildlife habitats and green corridors; and off-site highway, environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements (Outline application with all matters reserved except for access). |
3313734 |
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Land East Of Thorncroft Drive, North Of Gills Lane, Pensby , |
Residential development for up to 15 dwellings (Use Class C3), including 30% affordable housing; delivery of green infrastructure including a green space, wildlife habitats and wetland; and off-site environmental, biodiversity and accessibility enhancements (Outline application with all matters reserved except for access). |
3313737 |
View the Leverhulme Inquiry (May to July) website