Formby Parish Council seeks further clarification from Sefton Council over Marsh Brows apartment development

Formby Parish Council has written to Sefton Council seeking further clarification over a number of planning matters relating to the apartment development currently under construction on the former dairy site at 5 Marsh Brows.

The development, which backs onto Formby railway station car park, has become one of the most talked about construction projects in the village in recent months as its steel frame has risen above surrounding properties. While planning permission for residential development on the site has already been granted, the Parish Council says it believes there are several important questions that deserve further explanation in the interests of transparency and public confidence.

The Council’s latest correspondence follows a review of the Planning Officer’s Report relating to Planning Application DC/2025/00160, together with recent information received from Sefton Council’s Planning Enforcement Team.

Among the issues raised is how the adopted Formby and Little Altcar Neighbourhood Plan was taken into account when determining the most recent planning application. The Parish Council notes that although the original planning permissions for the development pre date the adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan, the latest approval was granted in 2025 after the Plan had become part of the statutory Development Plan. Members have therefore asked Sefton Council to explain how the policies contained within the Neighbourhood Plan were considered when making its decision.

A view of the development from Formby Train Station car park

The Parish Council has also requested further information regarding parking provision for the development. The approved scheme provides 13 apartments, consisting of 12 two bedroom apartments and one three bedroom penthouse. Members have asked Sefton Council to explain how the number of parking spaces complies with the Council’s adopted parking standards and whether the revised apartment mix required a fresh parking assessment before planning permission was granted.

Another point raised relates to the telecommunications monopole located close to the site. The Parish Council has asked whether its proximity was considered during the planning process and why there appears to be no reference to it within the Planning Officer’s Report.

One of the matters that prompted further correspondence was information received from Sefton Council’s Planning Enforcement Team stating that no compliance inspection has yet been undertaken to confirm that the building currently under construction accords with the approved planning permission.

Given the scale and prominence of the development, the Parish Council has now asked Sefton Council when such an inspection is expected to take place. Compliance inspections are carried out by local planning authorities to help ensure that developments are being built in accordance with the planning permission that has been granted.

Councillor Dave Irving said the Parish Council was not seeking to prevent or delay the development but wanted to ensure residents could have confidence in the planning process.

He said: “The Parish Council is not seeking to delay or obstruct this development. Our role is to ensure that planning decisions are transparent and that residents can have confidence that developments are being built in accordance with the permissions granted by Sefton Council.

“We have therefore asked a number of reasonable questions regarding the application of our Neighbourhood Plan, the parking provision, the relationship with the nearby telecommunications mast and the Council’s inspection procedures. We look forward to receiving Sefton Council’s response.”

The apartment development has been under discussion for a number of years and was the subject of objections from some residents and community organisations during the planning process before permission was granted. Construction is now well advanced, with the steel frame largely complete and work continuing on what will become a 13 apartment residential development on the former dairy site.

The Parish Council says it will consider Sefton Council’s response once it is received and will continue to keep residents informed of any significant developments.