Sefton Council renew search for possible Gypsy site - Merseyside

From the Crosby Herald

SEFTON Council has renewed its call for landowners and developers to submit sites for consideration for new homes.

The latest ‘Call For Housing’ consultation follows on from five similar exercises that have taken place since 2007.

Any new sites identified will be considered for inclusion in the council’s next 2014 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

A spokesperson for Sefton Council’s Strategic Planning Team said: “This exercise is aimed at maximising the amount of homes we can identify in the urban area and thus reducing the amount of land we may need in the Green Belt.

“Potential housing sites or conversion opportunities should be in existing settlements only, and not in the Green Belt and must be capable of delivery.

“Sites should have a realistic prospect of being developed and in particular, they should be submitted by the owner or by a person / organisation with a direct interest in the land, or someone acting on their behalf.”

Examples given by the council of the sort of land they are looking for includes vacant or under-used land and empty spaces above shops / commercial premises. They are also hoping to identify existing buildings that could be converted into new housing.

More controversially the council is also hoping to identify an additional Gypsy and Traveller site in Sefton as recommended by proposals contained within Sefton’s Local Plan.

The proposals state the council must identify a supply of “specific developable sites to meet diverse population growth needs over a period of six to 15 years”.

At the moment Sefton Council provide one site with 16 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers at Red Rose Park in Formby.

But following a recent Liverpool City Region study into Traveller needs throughout Merseyside and the surrounding area, it was highlighted that Sefton should find 16 more pitches up until 2016.

Any new sites will have to meet certain criteria such as not causing significant harm to neighbouring properties and that any sites should be within easy reach of essential services and facilities such as health services and schools.

Site submissions should be sent to local.plan@sefton.gov.uk

For more information, please call 0151 934 3555.