Residents win round one in battle to block houses on Bromborough's Croft Retail Park

Oct 22 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

A BID to build houses on a disused part of Bromborough's Croft Retail Park has been withdrawn.

USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd) confirmed this week it had agreed to prepare a new outline planning application to replace one previously submitted to Wirral Council for 105 housing units on the land.

The 5.6 acre site was previously used as a car park but was blocked off in 2004 after problems with joyriding and other anti-social behaviour.

It is understood the application was withdrawn after Wirral Council planners expressed concerns about the density of the proposed housing. USS is expected to submit another application shortly and says it is in “very constructive discussions” with officers about the way forward for the scheme.

A spokesman for USS told the News: “Having carefully considered the comments made by Wirral Council officers on USS's proposals on residential use, USS has agreed to comply with the officers' request that a new planning application be prepared that reflects their comments.”

Residents fighting the proposals said they were delighted the application had been withdrawn.

The group had argued the planned new housing would increase crime and anti-social behaviour and create more congestion along Magazine Road and New Chester Road.

They questioned why the land could not continue to be used for retail purposes – but USS said its lack of prominence on the park meant there was little demand for retail premises.

Residents' spokesman Sue Colquhoun said: “We are delighted planning officers have accepted and upheld our objections to this application. Although USS have now withdrawn this application, I have no doubt they will resubmit an amended application. Although we may have won the first battle the war will still go on!”

READ an interview with USS's Fergus Egan about his vision for the future of the Croft in next week's News.