We, the undersigned, are supportive of Wirral Council's Submission Local Plan, which has been much improved since earlier policies and proposals by adopting a "No Green Belt Release" approach. We support the Council's Submission Local Plan for focusing new jobs and housing development in declining urban areas that should be "levelled up", using Brownfield Land, in accordance with Government Policy.

We support the "No Green Belt Release" approach as it enables the "5 Purposes of Green Belt" to continue for the benefit of all Wirral Residents:

a) to check the un-restricted sprawl of large built-up areas.

b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another.

c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment

d) to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and

e) to assist in urban generation, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land - particularly in the east of the Wirral

However, we are signing this petition to STRONGLY OPPOSE the imposition of an over-inflated housing requirement, which unduly risks that our green fields be used for development, should the Council be unable to meet the "Housing Delivery Test" in the future. We respectfully ask that the Examining Inspector listens to the case made by the Wirral Green Space Alliance (WGSA) as it seeks a modification to reduce the housing need number, and an early review of the housing requirement.

Wirral is a peninsula. The area is renowned for it's special habitats and rare species. The environmental designations are a key strength of Wirral, attracting visitors all year round to enjoy nature. These are some of the "Exceptional Circumstances" as to why the "Standard Methodology for Calculating Housing Need" is inappropriate and leads to an inflated housing requirement, at a magnitude of three to four times what is should really be.

In addition, the Local Plan Inspection guidance states that the Local Plan must "be based on up-to-date evidence". Whereas Wirral's Draft Local Plan Housing Need Figure of 13360 houses is based on out of date 2014 ONS data which has been widely discredited. WGSA experts have undertaken exhaustive studies and analysis using a range of different scenarios and the changing data over time. WGSA experts and other independent experts have concluded that Wirral's Housing Need Figure is overinflated and based on obsolete figures.

Government policy and emphasis are shifting and the SIGNIFICANT disparity between the Draft Local Plan 13360 Housing Figure and the experts' detailed scenario calculations, averaging circa 4300 houses, also provides the "Exceptional Circumstances" required to depart from the previously mandated methodology. We urge the Local Plan Inspector to consider a "Main Modification" to the Local Plan, to reduce the Housing Need Figure to reflect one which is based on realistic and up to date evidence.

Furthermore, all alternative sites that are underused, neglected or vacant should be considered in advance of allocating green spaces for development. Where a brownfield site is of value to ecology or local amenity, we believe it should be highlighted as such in the Local Plan. Our green areas act as green lungs for environmental health for the benefits of people and wildlife. 

Our ecology is under unprecedented threat. Restoration of habitats is an important role of the Local Plan, and inclusion of adequate buffer areas to support the ecological network is important. The Climate Change Emergency and other international political issues mean that it is more important than ever to preserve our farmland for food production and to preserve our green spaces to mitigate against extreme weather events.

We support an Adopted Local Plan , with a reduced housing requirement and NO Green Belt / Green Space Development, which will enable Wirral Council to better steer sustainable development, and in doing so, conserve Wirral's greenspaces for the enjoyment and benefit of all in the future.