The Director of Regeneration and Place introduced a report which sought approval for the Council to adopt the Wirral Interim Approach to Avoid and Mitigate Recreational Disturbance as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The approach provided a mechanism to fund measures, through a tariff on new housing development of 10 or more units, to avoid and mitigate disturbance to birds from human activity on the internationally designated foreshores around the Wirral coast arising from additional visits to the coast generated by new housing development. The Wirral Interim approach formed part of a wider Liverpool City Region Recreational Management Strategy (LCR RMS) initiative to tackle this issue. The Wirral Interim approach had been produced as an interim measure due to delays in implementing the LCR RMS, which is expected to come into force in 2024.

The Wirral Interim approach document was published in draft alongside the Submission Draft Wirral Local Plan 2021-2037 in July 2022 and was in the Local Plan Examination Library as document reference ECC27.

The LCR RMS was implemented through a joint Supplementary Planning Document, and the draft scoping document (currently out to consultation) was appended to this report for noting.

Members sought assurance that measures were not being implemented to discourage people from visiting the local coastline and were informed that the focus of the RMS would be more educational, citing volunteer schemes around Hilbre Island and more signage on foreshores.

A further discussion was had about feasibility studies, potential revenue and queried if a Section 106 Agreement could be used to ensure compliance. Members were assured that this could be utilised as a planning obligation between developers and the Council.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Kathy Hodson it was,

Resolved – That

1.  the adoption of the Wirral Interim Approach to Avoid and Mitigate Recreational Pressure Document as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications be approved.

2.  periodic updates be received by this Committee on the Interim Approach to Avoid and Mitigate Recreational Pressures and its implementation be reviewed on an annual basis in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of the Committee