A local plan is a statutory document that sets out the council’s vision and strategies for future development.
Local plans are used to help in the determination of planning applications and in other planning related decisions.
Existing adopted local plans
The council has two existing adopted local plans:
- Unitary Development Plan for Wirral (February 2000)
- Joint Waste Local Plan for Merseyside and Halton (July 2013)
The strategic polices in the Unitary Development Plan will soon be replaced by a new Core Strategy Local Plan.
A Neighbourhood Development Plan for Devonshire Park was made part of the statutory Development Plan for Wirral on 14 December 2015.
A Neighbourhood Development Plan for Hoylake was made part of the statutory Development Plan for Wirral on 19 December 2016.
Decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission within Devonshire Park and within Hoylake will now also need to be made in accordance with these Neighbourhood Development Plans unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Local development scheme
The preparation of future local plans is governed by a local development scheme.
A revised local development scheme was approved by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety and Deputy Leader of the Council in December 2017 and by Council in March 2018.
Evidence Base
A number of studies and research projects have been prepared to support the development of the council’s land use planning policies.