BRITAIN’S longest-running planning dispute has reached a new milestone.

May 19 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

Redrow Homes Lancashire submitted their environmental impact report to accompany plans to build a £60m housing estate in the grounds of Thingwall Hall.

The plans form Redrow’s 19th application to build a £60m housing estate in the grounds of the Grade II-listed Hall, in Knotty Ash.

Their report will go direct to a planning inspector who is due to open a public inquiry into the application on July 1.

Local action groups fiercely oppose the plans, saying the proposed 528 houses will overload roads and local amenities.

The dispute has dragged on for more than 13 years. The two sides were due to meet at a public inquiry in January, but the hearing was postponed after Knowsley Council’s barrister had to pull out.

Both Knowsley and Liverpool City councils are expected to formally object to the plans at the inquiry because of the traffic.

A spokesperson for Knowsley said: “Knowsley Council’s position on this planning application has not changed. There has never been planning permission for residential development on the grounds of highway issues.

“The current planning application fails to demonstrate that the surrounding transport network can accommodate the development. The proposed junction layout at Thomas Lane, Thomas Drive and Thingwall Hall Drive would be detrimental to highway safety, movement and residential amenity.

“However, permission has been granted on appeal for the remediation of the site. The Planning Inspectorate is responsible for making a decision on the appeal and will determine the timescales for this.” The July hearing will be the second public inquiry into Redrow’s plans. The developers took their original 1995 planning application – which was for 368 homes on the 47-acre site – to an inquiry in 2000.

Knowsley Council then refused planning permission over traffic and contamination concerns. The site includes a former landfill dump and is thought to contain 90,000 tonnes of waste.

Campaigners fear buried asbestos could be disturbed during construction.

But, eight years ago, the planning inspector upheld Redrow’s appeal and the plans appeared to have the green light.

The final hurdle was for then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to agree to the inspector’s recommendations.

Prescott agreed with the inspector on the first two appeals, which both centred around the contamination issues.

But he then started a new debate by dismissing the developer's third appeal – refusing to allow Redrow permission to build the houses.

A spokesperson for Redrow Homes Lancashire said: “The Thingwall Hall site is allocated for residential development in the Knowsley Unitary Development Plan and has been for many years.

“Redrow already has planning consent for remediation work and the principle of redevelopment has already been established.

“The long-standing outline planning application, which was submitted to Knowsley MBC and Liverpool City Council, is going to a public inquiry on July 1.

“If given the go-ahead, this site will be transformed into an attractive development, providing a range of housing for the people of Knowsley.”

benschofield