Wirral Council is pushing back against the UK government’s housing targets, citing concerns over local needs and potential greenbelt development.
The government’s new planning policy has stirred up some tension. Local MPs, like Matthew Patrick from Wirral West, argue that urgent action is needed due to the housing crisis. Many folks are being forced to move away just to find a place to live.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned that home ownership feels out of reach for many, especially with rising homelessness. A recent report showed over 5,200 people in Wirral are looking for social housing, and about 1,000 are homeless at any given time.
At a recent council meeting, Jon Heath from the Wirral Green Space Alliance raised concerns about the government’s housing figures. He believes they could lead to a significant change in the area’s character and push for more greenbelt land to be developed.
Cllr Tony Jones, the committee chair, responded by saying the council doesn’t accept the new method for calculating housing needs. He pointed out that they’ve already communicated their views to the government in a letter.
In September 2024, the council’s Chief Planner, Mandy Lewis, expressed worries that the government’s plans were creating uncertainty for their Local Plan. This plan is crucial for guiding where new homes and businesses should go, and it doesn’t include any changes to greenbelt boundaries.
The council argues that the government’s approach could harm their regeneration efforts. They feel they should be allowed to focus on development without being sidetracked by inappropriate applications in the greenbelt.
Wirral Council also criticized the government’s housing need calculations, saying the targets are too high and not based on solid evidence. They pointed out that the local population has remained mostly stable, with little demand for such a large increase in housing.
Between 2011 and 2021, Wirral’s population grew by just 0.1%, which is much slower than other areas. The demographic is also changing, with fewer people aged 35 to 49 and an increase in those aged 65 to 74.
During the meeting, the council also discussed potential budget cuts, as they face financial challenges. They confirmed they hadn’t applied for the government’s New Towns Taskforce for Birkenhead, as the required 10,000 homes would need to be in addition to what’s already planned.
