URL: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6055

Decision Maker: Assistant Director: Property and Investment

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Assistant Director Property and Investment has authorised that:   (1)  the site in Jackson Street, Birkenhead (as delineated red on appendix 1) currently owned by A2B Skip Hire (WIrral) Ltd be transferred to the Council; and   (2)  the site at Limekiln Lane, Wallasey (as delineated red on appendix 2) currently owned by the Council be transferred to A2B Skip Hire (Wirral) Ltd; and   (3)  the above transactions be at net nil consideration on the basis that each site is of a value of a £200,000. A2B Skip Hire (Wirral) Ltd (“A2B Skip Hire”) operates a site in Jackson Street is as a waste transfer station.  The extent of the site (“the Jackson Street site”) is shown edged red on the plan attached as Appendix 1.  The Jackson Street site is situated within the Hind Street and St Werburgh’s Regeneration Area as designated in the Council’s adopted Local Plan.  Although the Jackson Street site forms part of the second phase of housing delivery at Hind Street, the nature of the current use would not be conducive to the proposed redevelopment.  Officers, together with the Council’s redevelopment partner for Hind Street, Ion, have been working with A2B Skip Hire to explore relocation opportunities.   The Council owns a site in Limekiln Lane, Wallasey which is vacant and has been unused for decades.  The extent of the site (“the Limekiln Lane site”) is shown edged red on the plan attached as Appendix 2.  The Limekiln Lane site forms part of an Employment Allocation in the Local Plan under EMP-RA8.1.  The Limekiln Lane site has been considered for other projects such as potential depot relocation and also to support other regeneration schemes such as the proposed Cleveland Street Neighbourhood Masterplan, but none have been brought forward so far.  The Limekiln Lane site therefore remains unused and surplus to the Council’s requirements.   The Limekiln Lane site has been identified as a suitable relocation site for A2B Skip Hire and, to support discussions, independent valuations were commissioned for both sites. Whilst the Limekiln Lane site is much bigger, it has issues such as Japanese Knotweed and a significant amount of filled ground.  A2B Skip Hire is aware of these issues and is happy to address them.  In light of these issues, the valuations for both sites are £200,000 respectively, which presents the opportunity for a land exchange.   The sale will need to be structured in such a way as to allow A2B Skip Hire to remain at the Jackson Street site whilst it undertakes works to the Limekiln Lane site and ensure that any necessary statutory approvals are obtained.   The council would need to seek to acquire the Jackson Street site at some point in the future to deliver the Hind Street Scheme.  If the Council is unable to reach an agreement, it would need to consider the use of Compulsory Purchase powers which would take a considerable amount of time and would be more costly than the current proposal.   The decision has been taken under Part 3 Section C - Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers as the decision is not reserved to a Committee or Sub-Committee and the Director is satisfied that paragraphs 2(a) to 2(c) apply.   Background Papers   Valuation Reports      

Date of Decision: July 28, 2025