Merseyside
A metropolitan county centred on the River Mersey, home to the world-famous city of Liverpool with its Beatles heritage and thriving waterfront.
Planning Permission in Merseyside
Planning permission in Merseyside is administered by the five metropolitan borough councils: Liverpool City Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council and Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Each borough has its own planning portal, Local Plan policies and validation requirements.
Liverpool City Council's planning pages provide access to its adopted Liverpool Local Plan (2013-2033). Policy LH1 (Housing Delivery) sets out the council's approach to housing supply, and Policy LD1 (Design and Townscape Quality) is the primary design policy. The council expects new residential development to demonstrate a thorough understanding of Liverpool's rich and varied architectural heritage and to make a positive contribution to the urban environment. The council's development management officers are experienced in assessing applications in the city's numerous conservation areas and in the vicinity of its listed building stock.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council's planning pages cover one of the most varied planning environments in Merseyside. The Wirral Local Plan, adopted in 2019, includes policies addressing the borough's Green Belt, its coastal landscapes and its urban regeneration priorities. Policy DM1 (General Development Principles) is the primary design policy, requiring development to respect local character and landscape setting. The council's design policies reflect the contrasting character of the Wirral's varied settlements - the Victorian seaside resort character of West Kirby, the suburban character of Heswall and the more urban character of Birkenhead.
Community Infrastructure Levy is charged by several Merseyside boroughs. Rates vary significantly, reflecting major differences in land values between the high-value coastal and suburban areas of Wirral and Sefton and the lower-value urban areas of Knowsley and parts of Liverpool. The self-build CIL exemption is available from all charging boroughs. Applicants should confirm the CIL position with the relevant borough before committing to a site.
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council's planning pages cover the coastal strip from Crosby to Southport. The council's core strategy and development management policies address the particular planning challenges of the Sefton coast, including the Slindon Coast Special Area of Conservation, the Sefton dune system SSSI and flood risk from the Irish Sea. Coastal erosion and inundation risk assessments are required for self-build proposals near the Sefton coastline, and the council's coastal change policies should be consulted before purchasing any coastal plot.
Section 106 obligations across Merseyside address affordable housing, open space, education, public transport and highways. The affordable housing threshold - below which contributions are not sought - varies by borough. Single self-build plots typically fall below the relevant threshold, but applicants should confirm this with the relevant borough's planning obligations team.
Pre-application advice is available from all five Merseyside borough planning services. Given the complexity of Liverpool's heritage environment and the sensitivity of the Wirral and Sefton coastal landscapes, pre-application engagement is strongly recommended for self-build proposals in these areas.
Liverpool City Council's planning pages provide access to its adopted Liverpool Local Plan (2013-2033). Policy LH1 (Housing Delivery) sets out the council's approach to housing supply, and Policy LD1 (Design and Townscape Quality) is the primary design policy. The council expects new residential development to demonstrate a thorough understanding of Liverpool's rich and varied architectural heritage and to make a positive contribution to the urban environment. The council's development management officers are experienced in assessing applications in the city's numerous conservation areas and in the vicinity of its listed building stock.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council's planning pages cover one of the most varied planning environments in Merseyside. The Wirral Local Plan, adopted in 2019, includes policies addressing the borough's Green Belt, its coastal landscapes and its urban regeneration priorities. Policy DM1 (General Development Principles) is the primary design policy, requiring development to respect local character and landscape setting. The council's design policies reflect the contrasting character of the Wirral's varied settlements - the Victorian seaside resort character of West Kirby, the suburban character of Heswall and the more urban character of Birkenhead.
Community Infrastructure Levy is charged by several Merseyside boroughs. Rates vary significantly, reflecting major differences in land values between the high-value coastal and suburban areas of Wirral and Sefton and the lower-value urban areas of Knowsley and parts of Liverpool. The self-build CIL exemption is available from all charging boroughs. Applicants should confirm the CIL position with the relevant borough before committing to a site.
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council's planning pages cover the coastal strip from Crosby to Southport. The council's core strategy and development management policies address the particular planning challenges of the Sefton coast, including the Slindon Coast Special Area of Conservation, the Sefton dune system SSSI and flood risk from the Irish Sea. Coastal erosion and inundation risk assessments are required for self-build proposals near the Sefton coastline, and the council's coastal change policies should be consulted before purchasing any coastal plot.
Section 106 obligations across Merseyside address affordable housing, open space, education, public transport and highways. The affordable housing threshold - below which contributions are not sought - varies by borough. Single self-build plots typically fall below the relevant threshold, but applicants should confirm this with the relevant borough's planning obligations team.
Pre-application advice is available from all five Merseyside borough planning services. Given the complexity of Liverpool's heritage environment and the sensitivity of the Wirral and Sefton coastal landscapes, pre-application engagement is strongly recommended for self-build proposals in these areas.
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