Plans have been approved for homes and a new clubhouse to be built on an Eastham rugby club’s pitches, while blueprints have been submitted to the council for 35 new houses in Heswall.

The Eastham plans, which were approved by the council last week, will see Anselmians Rugby Club’s pavilion building demolished and many of its facilities redeveloped.

A total of 21 new homes are set to be built as well as a new pavilion, 150 parking spaces and alterations to the layout of the pitches.

Last year, the club posted a petition online urging the public to support the plans, which then received more than 450 signatures.

It said: “We believe that given the lack of facilities for the youth of Eastham and probable decline of the rugby club as a result of this development not going ahead represents a ‘very special circumstance’ from a planning perspective. Anselmians Rugby Club has a long heritage of working with the local community and delivering positive outcomes for Wirral residents.”

The plans, originally submitted in February last year, received more than 250 supporting signatures on the Wirral planning website, with 100 opposing them.

Opposition even led to an open letter being written to then-Communities secretary Sajid Javid, urging him to call in the plans, with concerns over increased traffic, development on green belt land and damaging the character of the village.

But following a meeting with local people and Mr Javid having decided not to call in the proposals, Ravi Sibal, chair of the club, said he was “committed to improving relations with residents”.

In a statement made to the Eastham Labour group, he said: “Our ambition is to be an inclusive sports club serving the needs of the wider community.

"We are a friendly and forward-thinking club – we are not driven by a big money game and want to make sure we don’t want to grow too big.

"The new development will provide facilities for the local community, in the shape of a youth club and function suite open for hire to support events held by local residents.”

The plans will also see the floodlights repositioned and ball catchment fencing put up.

The agent, Cass Associates, was contacted for further comment about the proposals.

In terms of the Heswall plans, the move would mean all buildings at the Newhall site on Chester High Road demolished, with 35 “high quality” homes built.

Wirral Globe:

The Heswall site earmarked for 35 homes

There are businesses on site including the Mini Monsters Fun House and the Potting Shed Craft and Cafe, and the planning report said the applicant was working with them “to discuss potential relocation within the area so there will not be a loss of jobs”.

It would mean both detached and semi-detached homes built there, and the planning statement submitted alongside the application explained: “This proposal for 35 dwellings provides a high quality development to sit within the landscape of West Wirral.

“The layout design provides a modern family friendly environment which utilises previously developed land. The scheme as proposed includes the remediation of land that is currently covered in hard standing.

“The site is well-connected to public transport links and to the local footpath network. The site provides an excellent opportunity for the redevelopment of brownfield land which has become underused and derelict in places.”

A statement from the applicant, Pure Eco Solutions, said: “We have recently marketed the site however there has been very little interest due to the existing accommodation being poorly built and not up to modern commercial standards.

“The site and its buildings are rapidly deteriorating and approaching the end of its economic life and therefore the proposed redevelopment for housing on a brownfield site in a sustainable location is a sensible use for the site.

“The redevelopment proposed will result in the removal of the existing unsightly buildings and structures and contribute to delivering much needed housing in Wirral.”