What are the new powers of the Metro Mayor to decide on planning applications?

What are the new powers of the Metro Mayor to decide on planning applications?

Planning Committee meeting (Wirral Council) 15th December 2016 councillors voting to refuse planning permission for a fire station at Saughall Massie L to R Cllr Pat Cleary, Cllr Stuart Kelly, Cllr Ian Lewis, Cllr Kathy Hodson, Cllr Eddie Boult, Cllr David Elderton

What are the new powers of the Metro Mayor to decide on planning applications?

                                 

Planning Committee meeting (Wirral Council) 15th December 2016 councillors voting to refuse planning permission for a fire station at Saughall Massie L to R Cllr Pat Cleary, Cllr Stuart Kelly, Cllr Ian Lewis, Cllr Kathy Hodson, Cllr Eddie Boult, Cllr David Elderton
Planning Committee meeting (Wirral Council) 15th December 2016 councillors voting to refuse planning permission for a fire station at Saughall Massie L to R Cllr Pat Cleary, Cllr Stuart Kelly, Cllr Ian Lewis, Cllr Kathy Hodson, Cllr Eddie Boult, Cllr David Elderton

How planning applications are decided will change after a new Metro Mayor is elected next month. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will have the power (from the 8th May 2017) to decide on planning applications of “potential strategic importance”.

Whether a planning application is of “potential strategic importance” is defined in the legislation in categories such as large-scale developments, major infrastructure and development which may affect strategic policies.

The last category includes planning applications in the green belt that involve constructing buildings with over 1,000 square metres floor space.

For example the controversial Saughall Massie fire station planning application is in the green belt, but is for a building of 645 square metres (originally 737 square metres) so this would be decided by Wirral Council’s Planning Committee.

However the equally controversial Hoylake Golf Resort project will involve a planning application for the construction of buildings over 1000 square metres so could easily be deemed to be of “potential strategic importance” and be determined by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and not Wirral Council’s Planning Committee.

Interestingly, the revised planning application for a fire station at Saughall Massie includes the proposed Hoylake Golf Resort as a reason for a fire station at this location.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be meeting on the 21st April 2017 to revise their constitution ahead of gaining these new powers.

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Author: John Brace

New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council. Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.

14 thoughts on “What are the new powers of the Metro Mayor to decide on planning applications?”

    1. People have complained in the past about how increases to the Mersey Tunnel tolls were decided by councillors from far away parts of Merseyside, it seems we’re heading for similar criticism about the way certain planning applications are decided too!

  1. G’day John

    Happy Easter to you and yours.

    I just thanked a few people for their support on The Leaks but being half asleep I didn’t mention the truly great John “Tarrantino” Brace.

    John, wirral should be for ever indebted to you for your almost thankless great work.

    What would these absolute scum bags be up to without your beady eye watching them and there impotent auditors.

    Bless.

    Ooroo

    James

      1. G’day John

        Sounds like a job for “Little Matty Patty” and his mental errr mentor “Fartin Lobsterpot.

        Mate there will be jobs going for editors and boy will they be busy editing.

        I smell a rat John as obviously you do to.

        Ooroo

        James

        These clowncillors should be just keeping an eye on the Officers but they just can’t keep their big fat, purple bulbous heads and obese ugly bodies out of the trough.

        You will be able to focus on the dodgy bits like “Ankles” “The ex-Dunny Chain Wearer” cutting a meeting short to meet a dodgy journalist with a loaded with crud envelope and “Phil the Very Very Very Very Slimy, Elusive, LYING Dill” doing what he does best….LIE.

        They just create money John for themselves and their mates, the money they keep saying they haven’t got.

  2. G’day John

    Another night of telling ourselves how good other people think we are…..deluded.

    In their ex-rubbish propaganda sheet.

    Wirral’s tourism stars celebrate an outstanding year for the borough

    Did I hear somewhere John that there is 17 golf courses/ranges on Wirral.

    Not a mention.

    “Phil the Very Very Very Very Slimy, Elusive,LYING Dill” should just say he wants to build an estate on green belt.

    Ooroo

    James

    When is the purple headed buffoon going to tell us of all the investment attained in Cannes?

    1. Well when Professor Robert Lee (the recipient of one of the tourism awards) and Chair of the Friends of Birkenhead Park asked the Planning Committee back in January not to approve a planning application for 7 houses and 21 apartments on the site of the former ESWA club (on the edges of Birkenhead Park) the planning application was approved by 6 votes (for), 5 (against) and 1 abstention.

  3. G’day John

    I saw the perpetually peroxided blonde was in new ferry for a photo shoot on day 1.

    Haven’t seen any positive comments since.

    C’mon stick up for the wonderful Chamber Pot and tell us what they have done people.

    There must be more than a photo shoot.

    Ooroo

    James

    Peroxide could be as harmful as nicotine I would imagine John.

    Romeo and Juliet comes to mind.

  4. G’day John

    The only thing wirral think they are good enough for.

    Wirral’s tourism stars celebrate an outstanding year for the borough

    B&B of the Year sponsored by Wirral Chamber

    • Me Bok House

    I wonder who has stayed there.

    I bet they didn’t enter it in the visitors book and give it a mark out of ten.

    Ooroo

    James

    They are just despicable John

  5. G’day John

    Don’t they make yer laugh. ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Their ex-local rubbish propaganda sheet

    PM calls snap general election – ‘bring it on’ says Frank Field

    There’s more chance of their blues not sinking into Everpeel Waters and winning the premier league.

    Ooroo

    James

  6. G’day John

    Keep your diary free for a whistleblower case (or two) over Kev and Stella’s Stinking Stagnant wirral Waters.

    Ooroo

    James

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