Landowners whose sites could be developed to help protect Wirral’s green belt are being urged to get in touch with the council.

The “Call for Sites” marks a key stage in the development of the Local Plan for the area, which will provide a blueprint for how the borough is to be developed up to 2035.

Now the council is urging those who own sites which could be used to meet Wirral’s housing and employment requirements to come forward.

Consultation on the options for Wirral’s Local Plan started on January 27 for eight weeks (to March 23) and seeks the public’s views of the Council’s proposed options for land use over the coming 15 years.

In addition, the Council is putting forward proposals on how the infrastructure needed to support extra housing will be delivered, focusing on regeneration in key areas primarily in the east of the borough.

Alongside a new online portal to allow comment on Wirral’s emerging Local Plan, a series of drop-in sessions are being held this month across the borough.

Wirral Council cabinet member for the Local Plan, Cllr Anita Leech, said: “This is another way we are making sure we look at every potential development site to provide the homes and employment land we will need over the next 15 years.

“I would urge anyone who owns a site which we have not yet included [in our Issues and Options document] as we move towards our draft Local Plan to get in touch through our specially designed website and let us know.

“We have been clear from the outset that we are focused on using this opportunity to regenerate areas of the borough such as Wallasey and Birkenhead, using the huge swathes of land around the dockland area and in and around Birkenhead town centre.

“We are also contacting all those who own land which has been given planning permission but which, for whatever reason, this has lapsed without development taking place to see how we can help them move their schemes forward.”

Residents and interested parties are now being asked to register with the specially developed online portal which allows people to comment directly on the evidence and documents which form the basis of the proposals for the draft Local Plan.

You can find out more and register to comment at www.wirral.gov.uk/localplan