The council said it wouldn’t be changing course over the plans
104 new homes on the site of a failed sports club are unlikely to go ahead as Wirral Council continues to oppose opening up the land for development. The developer behind the project Elan Homes suggested a decision was imminent earlier this year.
Developer Elan Homes, which is based in Ellesmere Port, has put forward plans for 104 homes on the site of the former Octel Sports Club off Bridle Road in Bromborough. However when originally applied for in 2020 by Aurora 2 Limited and Euro Property Investments Limited, the plans stalled due to a lack of new sports provision being supported in other places and over 300 comments, mostly objections.
However some changes were made to the plans which will see new football pitches provided at the former Prices Sports Club in Bromborough Pool, the derelict clubhouse refurbished and support made for cricket, tennis, and bowling. The Prices Sports Club would then become the home for the Bromborough and Eastham Junior Football Club who will manage the facility going forward.
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The football club has over 600 members of girls and boys between four and 16 with 35 registered teams. The derelict club building would become a new community centre with changing rooms which would also be available for the community.
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In April, Elan Homes said they expected a decision soon but four months later, it is still due to come to planning committee. A spokesperson for Elan Homes said: “Since 2020, we have worked positively with Wirral Council to bring forward new housing on the former Octel Club site and improve sports facilities elsewhere in the area.”
“We have responded to requests from both the local authority and Sport England to address matters raised during the planning process. This resulted in revised proposals being submitted almost 18 months ago. Elan Homes is now asking that the two planning applications are taken to planning committee for a decision at the earliest possible opportunity.
“We believe that approval of the two planning applications will enable the Council to satisfy demand for new housing in the short-term, reducing the pressure for green belt land to be released for development and addressing the recognised need for dedicated local sports facilities.”
“As we are nearing the final stages of the planning application process, we believe the swift granting of approval of the linked schemes would send a clear message that Wirral Council has the ability to work with local landowners and developers to deliver much needed housing on sites not yet included in their draft Local Plan, thus mitigating the latest pressures on green belt release.”
21 homes in the project would be affordable housing and the developer argues given recent changes to proposed housing targets from 728 homes a year to 1,755, it was “an ideal example of repurposing of a redundant site within the urban setting to create 104 new homes, together with some fantastic sport and community assets, with no impact on the green belt.”
However Wirral Council leader, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “The Octel Sports Club site has not been allocated for housing in either existing Unitary Development Plan or emerging Local Plan. The site has been progressed by Elan Homes as a windfall development.
“Despite concerns about the loss of land allocated for sport, the council has sought to work proactively with Elan Homes and Sport England throughout the process. Elan Homes has been given the opportunity to set out why their proposal to build houses in this location is acceptable, acknowledging the proposed improvements to the existing Price’s Field in Bromborough Pool and other contributions.
“The council is aware of the Government consultation regarding changes to National Planning Policy Framework and the proposed increased housing targets.
“The consultation does not propose changes to the approach in which a loss of sports facilities should be considered by the council. Wirral Council’s approach has been robustly supported by the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to dismiss a similar proposal to build houses on a playing field at Birkenhead School.
“The council will respond to the consultation separately but can confirm there is no intention to release any further land through the main modification process associated with the progression of the emerging Local Plan to adoption. The council remains committed to development on brownfield land.”