Liverpool City Council’s planning committee voted four to one in favour of the proposal for 51 luxury homes being given the go-ahead despite sizeable opposition. Campaigners had argued that the land was part of the park itself and staged demonstrations at Harthill Road and outside the city’s Town Hall this morning. Up to 200 people attended the demonstrations, many chanting and carrying banners displaying their opposition ahead of the Labour-run council’s decision. Nearby Calderstones School also expressed reservations about the increased traffic and noise pollution that the development would impact upon students. Gogglebox stars Leon and June Bernicoff also publicly voiced their opposition to Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson on social media over the £500,000 properties. Cries of ‘Shame!’ were heard from the public gallery following the ruling in Redrow’s favour after several local councillors had voiced their disapproval. Cllr Richard Kemp of the city’s Liberal Democrats vowed that the housing giant ‘will not win the war’ on the proposed development on the Harthill estate. Labour’s Richard Wentstone, whose constituency includes the plot of land, went against Mayor Anderson by urging the land to be preserved in its current state.
Councillors have rubber-stamped controversial plans by developer Redrow Homes to build homes on green land in Liverpool's Calderstones Park. Campaigners had argued that the area was part of the park and up to 200 people demonstrated against the proposed development ahead of the vote. But despite the strong opposition, Liverpool City Council's planning committee voted four to one to approve the plans for 51 luxury homes on the Harthill estate.