Residents oppose housing plan for Bromborough retail park

Aug 6 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Sue Colquhoun and Lindsey Arrowsmith

A GROUP of residents are fighting a bid to build houses on a disused part of a major Wirral retail park.

In June the owners of the Croft Retail Park in Bromborough, USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd) held a public exhibition outlining their proposals for 5.6 acres of redundant land previously used as a car park.

The plans are only being outlined at this stage, but could see up to 105 housing units built, with vehicle access via Magazine Road.

Residents’ spokesman Sue Colquhoun said she and her neighbours were bracing themselves for a “David and Goliath battle with USS”.

She said: “One of the attractions of Magazine Road has always been that it is a quiet little backwater tucked away, yet convenient for local shops, schools etc. If this proposal goes ahead it will just become part of yet another large housing estate.

“Another reason residents oppose those proposals is because there is already tremendous congestion on New Chester Road at peak times and this will be further increased with additional cars generated from the proposed new houses.

“We already take our lives in our hands when trying to get in and out of Magazine Road from the A41.”

The residents also argue:

l The land could be used for additional retail units.

l The housing proposed is too high density.

l A proposed pedestrian/cycle link would increase crime and anti-social behaviour.

USS’s portfolio manager for retail property, Fergus Egan, said: “We have genuinely tried to reflect the views of local residents in our amended plans.

“Understandably, questions were raised about proposed access via Magazine Road. We took these on board and have undertaken to give a formal indication to Wirral Council that we are willing to explore, through the planning process, funding and implementation of traffic calming along Magazine Road.

“Lack of visibility and prominence mean that demand for retail premises in this location is weak. Demand for light industrial and motor trade is also weak and these uses are already well-provided in the locality on the Wirral International Business Park.”

The site was blocked off in 2004 after concerns over joyriding and other anti-social behaviour.

Bromborough councillor Steve Niblock said: “At this stage it’s only an outline application and we will require further details of the plans when a full planning application is submitted.

“However the density of the housing and the issues around traffic safety do cause concern.”

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