CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Wirral's Green have been given a boost after a major shake-up to national planning rules was announced today (Tuesday, February 13).

As part of its long-term plan for housing, the government has announced that every council in England will be told that they will need to prioritise brownfield developments in order to protect the countryside and Green Belt.

The shift in national policy is in line with Wirral's draft Local Plan, which seeks to regenerate run down and neglected urban areas in the Borough while protecting Green Belt.

Councillor Jeff Green, leader of Wirral's Conservative Group, said: "It is now 20 years since Wirral was first required to have a Local Plan to protect our Green Belt, but it is only since 2019 that the Council has made any progress.

"Today's announcement is clear sign that our draft plan for Wirral has made the right choices, thanks to the work of residents and campaigners and scrapping the decision by the Town Hall’s last 'cabinet' to build on our Green Belt.

"I would urge developers to accept they are fighting a losing battle and, instead, to work with the council to regenerate those run down and neglected parts of the borough."

Since 2010, more than 2.5 million more homes have been built across the country, including almost 696,000 affordable homes. Between 1997 and 2010, average housing delivery was more than 170,000 a year. Since 2019, this has increased to 233,000 new homes a year on average.

Housing secretary Michael Gove added: "Today marks another important step forward in our Long-Term Plan for Housing, taking a brownfield first approach to deliver thousands of new homes where people want to live and work, without concreting over the countryside.

"Our new brownfield presumption will tackle under delivery in our key towns and cities – where new homes are most needed to support jobs and drive growth."

Wirral Council has been approached for comment.