Redrow’S plan to build 160 homes on the old Allerton Priory site could destroy the feeding grounds for owls and other birds of prey, a public enquiry heard today. A wildlife expert also said the 33-acre field was also home to small mammals and had enough different species of butterflies to nominate the land as a designated “wildlife site.” The public inquiry is being held because Redrow appealed against Liverpool Council’s decision to oppose its housing scheme for the land. Today the inquiry heard from achael Rhodes, an ecologist from Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service. She said:“The proposal represents an inappropriate and unjustified form of development within designated Green Wedge which will cause an intrusive and urbanising impact on the landscape, affecting the predominantly open character of the Green Wedge and will physically and visually reduce the Calderstones/Woolton Green Wedge between existing built up areas.” Species of bird including song thrush, cuckoo, dunnock, house sparrow, starling, herring gull, cinnabar moth, noctule bat, soprano pipistrelle bat have all been seen on the site. Mrs Rhodes added: “The site provides a mosaic of habitats which are of ecological value. “Development will result in the loss of five individual mature trees and three groups of trees from the woodland to allow the formation of access to the site. “The semi-natural, unmanaged nature of the appeal site provides greater habitat diversity which supports a greater range of species than managed amenity sites. “Woodland and scrub on site provides nesting sites for bird species whilst the associated tall herb and grassland habitats provide foraging areas for these bird species. “The woodland provides a habitat corridor for bird, small mammal and invertebrate species to move through the site to adjacent sites within the Green Wedge. “Unmanaged grassland and tall herbs such as thistle and scrub provide nectar for invertebrate species such as butterflies which in turn provide food for other species. “Seed and berries provide food sources for birds and small mammals. “A total of 12 butterfly species have been recorded on site which is reflective of the range of habitats present and the unmanaged nature of the site. “The grassland has been unmanaged and unmown for approximately ten years, this has allowed the biodiversity value of this site to develop.” The housing plan has met with fierce local opposition and since the inquiry has been underway the council has had to remove graffiti daubed on a listed wall of Allerton Priory. The message - “Say No to 160 Houses” - was plastered in white paint - but the Save Allerton Priory campaign group insisted it was nothing to do with them. Spokeswoman Sue Earle told the ECHO: “We totally condemn this sort of behaviour.” The Allerton Priory application does not form part of the council’s £205m deal with Redrow as their preferred housing partner to build 1,500 homes and bring up to 1,000 properties back into use over the next five years. The inquiry continues.
UK housebuilder Redrow 's controversial development of 160 homes on the old Allerton Priory site in Liverpool would destroy a " mosaic of habitats which are of ecological significance " , according to Rachael Rhodes , an ecologist from Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service . Speaking during an ongoing public inquiry , launched after Redrow appealed against Liverpool Council 's rejection of the development , Rhodes said the land qualified for designation as a heritage site .