Wirral Local Plan Case Study
- DAC Planning Team
- Oct 16
- 5 min read
Introduction
DAC Planning provided wide-ranging support to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in relation to the production and independent examination of the emerging Local Plan from 2020 until 2024 following the conclusion of the examination hearing sessions. The Local Plan was adopted by the Council in March 2025.
The Wirral Local Plan promotes an entirely brownfield first and ambitious regeneration strategy for Birkenhead and surrounds whilst protecting the Green Belt of the Borough.
DAC Planning provided expert advice and support to the Council team, working directly with the team to support the progression of the work required and at a more arms-length basis to progress key tasks ourselves. In addition to supporting the progression of the Local Plan DAC Planning also acted as expert witness for the Council in relation to prematurity at a public inquiry.
Key Areas of Work
Our key areas of work included:
📝Project management and programming
DAC Planning provided support and advise to the Council team for project management and programming of all tasks relating to plan production and examination. We regularly chaired and administered Local Plan specific team meetings to help keep things on track and produced and managed relevant work programmes as needed.
Through our work we assisted the Council with managing risk associated with the programme. We utilised the PAS Route Mapper Toolkit to review progress and identify where shortcomings existed. We communicated our advise regularly to senior officers and managers at the Council.
📝Plan and evidence base production
We supported the production of the plan and its policies through the review of draft materials produced by officers and directly drafting sections ourselves. We provided advice and guidance on the approach that the Council should take to structuring and presenting the Plan, having regard to the local context and requirements.
We provided a range of support and advice in relation to evidence base production and to ensure the robust translation of evidence base findings and recommendations into Local Plan policy.
DAC provided specific critical friend advice and guidance to the Council Officer producing the Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the District. We also provided project management and critical friend support for work associated with viability.
📝Housing strategy
DAC Planning supported the evolution of the spatial strategy which underpins the Local Plan enabling needs to be met through a brownfield land approach which means that no release of Green Belt land has been required.
DAC Planning produced the Housing Trajectory associated with the Plan and we assisted in testing its robustness through regular internal review and challenge sessions held with relevant Council officers. Our work included developing the stepped trajectory approach ultimately endorsed by the Inspectors. We also led and coordinated the production of the Housing Delivery Strategy for the Council which underpins and justifies the approach of the Plan to meeting housing needs.
We advised and supported the Council with the formation of a Developer Forum, in addition to the development of an enhanced strategy relating to engagement with key external stakeholders associated with plan progression and delivery.
📝Duty to cooperate
DAC Planning managed the entire Duty to Cooperate (DtC) engagement process required by Wirral Council in order to meet the requirements of the DtC. There were no concerns raised at Examination on the DtC.
DAC Planning provided extensive DtC support, including scoping an approach to meeting the DtC, organising, attending and note taking for meetings with DtC bodies, organising and holding DtC workshops, writing the DtC Statement of Compliance and drafting statements of common ground with neighbouring local authorities, developers and DtC bodies.
📝Independent Examination
DAC co-led the Council team at the Independent Examination and represented the Council in relation to several key topics including: housing, duty to cooperate, infrastructure and viability. We supported the production of hearing statements (and supplementary statements as required) through both review and direct drafting in response to requests received from the Inspectors. We provided training to Officers to assist with their development regarding the Independent Examination process.
📝Processing and analysis of consultation responses
We advised and assisted the Council with processing and analysing consultation responses received at the Regulation 18 stage of plan making. Similarly, we advised and supported the Council in preparing for the Regulation 19 Publication stage, and then in analysing the responses received prior to the submission of the Plan.
📝Public inquiry
DAC Planning acted on behalf of the Council as expert witness on prematurity at a public inquiry for proposals for residential development on seven separate sites in the Green Belt. The planning applications proposed the delivery of nearly 800 homes.
The inquiry coincided with the commencement of the local plan examination. DAC Planning worked closely with Council officers and Counsel to build a robust and defensible case for the appeal.
DAC Planning helped to successfully defend the Council’s decision to refuse the planning applications to avoid prejudicing the brownfield first strategy promoted in the the (at that time emerging) Local Plan. The Inspector dismissed the appeals agreeing that the proposals had the potential to undermine the local plan spatial strategy and were premature.
Testimonials
From Keith Keeley in 2022. *Keith is no longer at the Council but we can provide his personal email address if required.
"DAC Planning works in a range of ways to support the needs of the client. The company has provided short term advisory support and increases in the capacity of local authority planning policy teams to deliver key tasks, whilst also providing long term advice and support over a number of years as required to assist in the progression of a local plan and associated evidence base documents. DAC have become an integral part of the Wirral Local Plan Team and have played a major role in developing what is a complex regeneration focussed Local Plan. Their knowledge, and professional advice has been invaluable to us. From strategic guidance to assistance with detailed technical studies their work has been consistently of a high quality." (Head of Regeneration Strategy, Wirral BC)
From Kath Lawless in 2024. *Kath is no longer at the Council but I can provide her personal email address if required.
"DAC planning have been assisting Wirral Council since 2020 with the production and examination of our Local Plan. Wirral is a peninsular and is tightly constrained by Green belt and protected ecological environments. It is also a Borough with significant viability challenges and social inequality. DAC fully understood this brief and have worked alongside officers and consultants in shaping and developing the evidence base to support the Plan as well as the Plan itself. The team particularly supported and led the work on Duty to Co-operate and the housing trajectory and provided significant assistance on viability. David Coleman also acted as an expert witness in many of the Hearing sessions and his evidence was highly effective, measured and clearly presented. The Council anticipates that the Local Plan will be adopted later this year.
Our Local Plan examination was paused during 2023 to allow the Council to deal with a public Inquiry for 7 conjoined appeals for c800 dwellings in the Green Belt. The DAC team supported Wirral in providing a proof of evidence and providing expert evidence at the Public Inquiry on prematurity matters which weighed heavily in the appeal dismissals.
DAC are a small team but their level of expertise and up to date knowledge is impressive and is always presented clearly and within the agreed timeframes. The team have provided a range of advice and support relating to planning policy, project management and best practice, and communicate regularly and quickly with officers."