NETHERTON:

Aintree Curve Site, Ridgewood Way 109 (100)

MN2.35 Former Z Block Sites, Buckley Hill Lane 100

Land at the former Bootle High School, Browns Lane 63

Former St Raymond’s School playing field, Harrops Croft 53 (65)

Former Daleacre School, Daleacre Drive 37

Land at Pendle Drive 29 (52) LANS to build homes on Green Belt land in Churchtown have been increased from 220 to 300.

The expansion of the scheme on farmland off Bankfield Lane was revealed in planning inspector Martin Pike’s report to Sefton Council.

The scheme is part of Sefton’s Local Plan, the 15-year blueprint for the future of the borough, which will mean more than 11,000 homes being built around Sefton between now and 2030.

That will mean about 640 properties built each year, with 2,921 homes already earmarked for Southport, 2,609 in the Sefton East parishes (Maghull and Aintree), 1,655 in Bootle and Netherton, 1,010 in Crosby and Hightown, and 996 in Formby.

In Southport, the area most affected will be Churchtown, with 300 properties being built off Bankfield Lane, 450 at Moss Lane, and 158 on the former Philips factory site on Balmoral Drive, directly opposite the Bankfield Lane site.

The biggest Southport scheme involves plans for 678 homes in Crowland Street, which was initially considered for a mixed industrial/residential development before a decision was taken that it was not viable for employment use.

The original plan, two years ago, had called for nearly 1,000 more homes in Ainsdale, but this has been drastically scaled back after strong opposition. Remaining plans include 120 houses on the former Ainsdale High School site.

Birkdale would have 174 homes built next to Dobbies garden centre.

In his report, Mr Pike said: “The land (off Bankfield Lane) is part of the largest remaining area of open farmland between the eastern edge of Southport and the boundary with West Lancashire.

“Overall the development would cause moderate harm to the Green Belt.”

But he insisted that despite the construction of 908 homes in Churchtown, local schools and other services would be able to meet their needs.

He said: “Many local people are concerned about the ability of local schools and health facilities to deal with the significant additional demands from this and other sites nearby, but there is no compelling evidence that they will not be able to cope. The council demonstrated that there is spare capacity at some, albeit not all, local schools, and the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have given a borough-wide assurance that they are planning to accommodate the growing demand for health services and facilities.

“And though I understand the fears about extra traffic on local roads, the road network has the capacity to accommodate the development with only limited increase in queues and delay. Overall the proposal would make an important contribution to meeting local housing needs sustainably.”

Plans to build so many homes on Green Belt land in Churchtown have prompted some concerns.

Sefton Liberal Democrats leader Cllr Sue McGuire said “We have raised concerns about aspects of the local plan, especially development of the Green Belt in Churchtown and along Moss Lane.

“We recognise that new homes need to be built but these need to be the right type of home in the right place – there must be affordable homes that are within easy access to jobs.

“What we don’t need are lots of mansions on grade 1 agricultural land.”

Sefton Conservatives and Sefton Labour were both approached for comment.