The new housing target was announced by the UK Labour government in July as part of its major plans to overhaul planning policy and help deliver a manifesto pledge to build 1.5m more homes. This policy includes proposals to review green belt boundaries if deemed necessary to tackle housing shortages with a focus on brownfield and low quality land for development as well as a number of other changes.
This policy came under fire from opposition parties in Wirral at an emergency meeting held at Wallasey Town Hall on August 19 who argued the Labour policy was simplistic and would undermine plans to regenerate more deprived areas of the borough. Though they said they had some concerns, Labour councillors argued the policy could change, there was a need for new housing, and urged parties to work with the government. Several motions were put forward by all four political parties in the council which were all ultimately passed by a majority of councillors.
Two put forward by Labour and the Liberal Democrats passed unanimously while two put forward by the Conservatives and the Greens were voted through with Labour, the largest party in the council, being the only one to vote against. Despite the changes at a national level, Wirral Council leader Cllr Paul Stuart said he expected the local authority’s draft Local Plan, a major policy that would guide developments until 2040 on the Wirral, to be approved by the end of the year. The proposals put forward by the government suggest it co.