Locals fight against Liverpool council and Redrow Homes
A Redrow housing development in Liverpool has come under threat after residents and local councillors submitted a Village Green application, covering the paddock, woodland and nature trail of Harthill estate, part of Harthill and Calderstones Park. The local council is seeking to develop the site in partnership with Redrow, which critics have described as an "ill-thought out proposal."

Local residents braved the rain to launch their Village Green Application for parts of Harthill & Calderstones Park

A major step forward to save parts of Harthill and Calderstones Park from development has been made this week when local residents have submitted a Village Green application for parts of the Harthill estate including the paddock, woodland and nature trail.

The application has been brought together by local residents Katie & Richard Breed and is supported by the Friends of Harthill & Calderstones Park and local councillors Andrew Makinson and Richard Kemp.

The land in the park is threatened by the council who are seeking to develop it for housing in a joint proposal with Redrow Homes. But residents believe that the green space is vital if the City is going to provide a healthy and green environment for its citizens.

Katie Breed says, “I have lived in this area all my life and I have many friends and family members here who have always been able to use the land for recreational and educational purposes. There is plenty of land on which to build housing in the City without attacking our green spaces. If Liverpool is to prosper we need to keep the land as green space. This land has always been the ‘village green’ for thousands of people with access through Beechley House and from the main section of Calderstones Park”

Rosemary Brice, Chairman of the Friends of Harthill & Calderstones Park said, “Ever since 1914 when the Harthill Estate was purchased by the Council to join with the Calderstones Estate they have been recognised as being one unit and as being one facility for local people. This land is much loved by local people and indeed by the people from all over the city who use it”.

Cllr Andrew Makinson, who with Cllr Richard Kemp is fully supportive of the Village Green application, said, “It is clear that the Council realise that there is a real difficulty in developing this land. The Harthill estate has no less than 8 ‘listings’(s) on it including Beechley House, the haha and all the entrance gates off Harthill Road. The Redrow/Council Partnership are already seriously behind their own targets for public consultation and involvement. The easiest thing for them to do is to drop this ill-thought out proposal.

Details from: Katie Breed