Developers Withdraw Prescot Planning Application

By on Monday, July 18, 2016

prescot_greenbeltAn application for a residential development on part of Prescot’s former greenbelt has been withdrawn.

The proposal would have seen 199 houses built on land adjacent to Whitakers Garden Centre on Liverpool Road.

Council advised against plans

Councillor Mike Murphy, Knowsley Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said he was pleased that applicants Beesley & Fildes, Ltd, had listened to council advice.

Cllr Murphy said the plans “would have resulted in an overdevelopment of the site and the layout of the proposed scheme was extremely poor.

“The application failed to take account of the fact that the site forms the approach to the historic conservation area of Prescot and the site access arrangements caused me concerns about highway safety.

“They also failed to comply with current highways guidance.  The provision of public open space and mitigation of the impact on the environment also fell short of my expectations.”

save_prescot_greenbeltCampaigners & Prescot councillors opposed development

Residents also campaigned against the plans, with the support of Prescot North councillors Carl Cashman, Ian Smith and Mike Wynn.

Cllr Cashman, who as leader of the borough’s Liberal Democrats also leads the opposition on Knowsley Council, put down the decision to “people power and hard work from campaigners.”

He added: “I handed in a 800 strong petition that the council were struggling to get through. For me this is a victory for Prescot people and a message to the Labour decision-makers: ‘Prescot people fight for what matters.'”

More planning applications likely

While the current application has been withdrawn, it is likely developers will eventually submit revised plans for the site.

The land was part of the borough’s greenbelt until protection was removed as part of the Knowsley Local Plan, which the then-100%-Labour council voted for unanimously in January.

Cllr Murphy added that  although applications for housing developments on former greenbelt are welcome, the council “are only interested in high quality developments which enhance our borough and bring real benefits to our residents and people who wish to live here.”

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