PEEL has revealed how many of the 12,000 homes needed for Wirral it will actually build itself as part of the huge Wirral Waters project.

It comes as controversy over Wirral’s Local Plan deepens, with the authority having been told by the UK Government it has until 2035 to build a huge amount of housing stock on both brownfield and green belt land.

Since it was launched at the start of the decade, the ambitious Birkenhead docks project led by Peel Group Holdings has promised 13,000 homes in total.

That has led many to question why, when so many homes have been promised at Wirral Waters – more than the 12,000 for the Local Plan – there is the need for potentially decimating almost 50 of the borough’s large green belt sites.

Now, in a leaked letter circulated to all Wirral councillors, Peel has said it remains “absolutely committed” to the 13,000 figure, but that number relates to the entire 30 year project – spanning to 2040 and beyond.

In terms of the specific Local Plan contribution up until 2035, the letter said the number built by Peel would be between 2,900 and 6,450 – depending on investment, change in the area and “stakeholder commitment”.

It also told councillors five planning applications have been submitted to the council since March 2018 – all of them registered and awaiting approval.

The letter, written by Wirral Waters’ director of development Richard Mawdsley, said: “Peel Land and Property is acutely aware that meeting the housing needs of current and future populations is a critical issue facing communities nationally, regionally and locally.

“Locally we recognise the role Wirral Waters can play in the delivery of any local housing strategy and the importance of brownfield developments in reducing the pressure to build new homes on Wirral’s green spaces.

“Peel Land and Property and our partners remain absolutely committed to house building on the Wirral Waters site.”

It also explained that various factors will influence the number of homes that can be built on the huge site, which is spread across East Float and West Float.

They include investment in transport, environmental improvements taking place, and energy and technology infrastructure.

The letter added: “As with most developments on brownfield sites, there is a direct link between the pace and scale of housing delivery and a coordinated, ‘whole place’ approach to the planning and delivery of the infrastructure that underpins growth.

“Collaboration between the private sector, local authorities and central government is therefore critical to enable this to happen.”

The number built at Wirral Waters by 2035 will influence the quantity of other brownfield and green belt sites – currently out for public consultation – are required.

It comes after Wirral South MP Alison McGovern last month told Peel to “put a roof over people’s heads or let someone else do it”, criticising the firm’s “insufficient progress” so far.

It’s become a contentious issue for local politicians, and this week the Conservative group accused the Labour council of “sitting back and doing nothing” over Wirral Waters given that five applications have been submitted.

A Labour source responded by saying the Tories were “siding with Peel on an issue that threatens large swathes of beautiful green belt”, adding that the party “did not understand the process”.

Liberal Democrat planning spokesman Cllr Stuart Kelly hit out at the “hypocrisy” of Labour claiming to be campaigning to “save” the green belt, adding: “If Labour councillors don’t want the Labour council to build on the Green Belt they should just say so and vote accordingly.”