The plans have been called in following major backlash
Pasture Marsh, an area of land near Moreton and Leasowe(Image: Google Maps)
The sale of Merseyside marshland for new homes could be put on hold after major backlash to the idea. Wirral Council officers approved the sale of land near Moreton for a possible residential development but the decision has now been called in.
An area of land off Ditton Lane in Moreton, Wirral was approved for sale by Wirral Council in July 2023 as part of a mass sale of assets by the local authority. During part of a Policy and Resources committee meeting not held in public, councillors agreed cross-party 12 to three “to progress and conclude the sale on the best terms reasonably possible” with the land labelled as “suitable for residential development”.
The report before elected members at the time said it could be considered for affordable housing, especially if combined with privately owned land next to it. Councillors of all parties were also updated in December 2024 on the sale.
However listings for the site sparked anger in 2025 and an online petition now has more than 5,700 signatures. In response to a question from campaigner Mike Gates, Labour councillor Mark Skillicorn said he wanted the council to look at options to satisfy both parties including improving biodiversity in the area.
The Friends of Pasture Marsh protesting against the sale of the land for homes(Image: Copyright Unknown)
Concerns have been raised about the impact the site’s development could have on flooding, trees, as well as wildlife habitats. A Facebook group set up to campaign against the sale has highlighted birds and bats using it.
Following the 2023 decision, officers approved the sale of the site to Persimmon Homes in January 2026. This would see the council enter an initial exclusive agreement to carry out investigations on the site.
A report said: “The site has not been used by the council for many years and is not actively maintained. The nature and location of this site has now generated some support to prevent the sale, although it should be noted that the council only owns a portion of the whole site and would not have any sway over the adjoining owner’s land.”
However the sale looks set to no longer go ahead as both Labour and Conservative councillors on the local authority’s Policy and Resources committee have come out against the idea. This suggests a majority are now opposing the sale.
On January 9, Conservative leader Cllr Jeff Green said in the email he was willing to call the matter in and asked for support from other parties to do this.
Later that day, Cllr Skillicorn alongside fellow Labour councillor Angela Davies called the decision in “as a matter of urgency”.
Cllr Skillicorn told the ECHO he wanted the local authority “to say it’s not for sale at this moment in time”, adding: “When the reports were presented to councillors, they were made two and a half years ago. They were dated. Things move on. Things change.”
He added: “We can put this to bed now before we continue. This is a perfect opportunity to reverse something that shouldn’t have been made in the first place.”
Conservative Moreton West Cllr Vida Wilson said the council’s flood risk assessments advised “this land should not be built on” and called too for a rethink. She has previously asked Wirral Council leader Cllr Paula Basnett to reconsider the sale.
She added: “Even at this late stage, I would urge all councillors on the committee to agree to this being looked at again. This site is wholly unsuitable for building on – the effects on the local environment would be devastating.”