.  To endorse Wirral Council response to a consultation draft development brief for Ellesmere Port Waterfront

Members were advised that Ellesmere Port and Neston Council had prepared a development brief for the redevelopment of Ellesmere Port docks, a key site in the West Cheshire New Growth Point bid and the largest potential housing site in West Cheshire.  Ellesmere Port and Neston Council expected to receive a planning application for a phased housing development of up to 7,550 new dwellings, in blocks of apartments from 6 to 20 storeys and 4/5 storey double unit houses.  This proposal was of importance for Wirral in its potential impact on the Wirral Waters scheme (including cumulative transport impacts on the M53 Motorway) and in the impact of any relocated port facilities (which the brief proposed to relocate in Wirral).

The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services asked Members to agree to representations seeking a limited redevelopment of the Ellesmere Port Docks being conditional on an acceptable phased relocation of port facilities to Wirral.  As responses were required by 5th December 2008, he recommended that Cabinet endorse the comments set out in Section 3 of the report which form the basis of the representations made by the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services.  In particular, Wirral Council supported the principle of regeneration of Ellesmere Port waterfront.  However, this should not harm the priorities in RSS policies LCR1 and LCR2, nor be achieved at the expense of the environmental conditions experienced by Wirral residents, or through any relocated port facilities having an adverse impact on internationally important habitats.

Resolved - That the comments set out in Section 3 of this report which have formed the basis of the representations made by the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services, be endorsed.  In particular, Wirral Council supports the principle of regeneration of Ellesmere Port waterfront.  However, this should not harm the priorities in RSS policies LCR1 and LCR2, nor be achieved at the expense of the environmental conditions experienced by Wirral residents, or through any relocated port facilities having an adverse impact on internationally important habitats.