Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised world-renowned Cammell Laird Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders Ltd (“Cammell Laird”) on its successful planning appeal for an operations and maintenance base on the River Mersey.

Planning permission was refused by Wirral Council in July 2014, against the professional advice of its officers. An appeal was submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and public hearings were held in February and May 2015. That appeal has been allowed and planning permission was granted on 13 October 2015 for an office and warehouse building and linkspan that will serve as a marine operations and maintenance facility for offshore wind projects.

The facility is intended to serve the existing and proposed offshore wind farms in Liverpool Bay, such as those at Burbo Bank. The Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State to determine the appeal, stated that he attached “significant weight to the contribution of this facility to the implementation of off-shore renewable energy projects, in line with national planning policy”.

The WFW team advising on the appeal was led by Head of Planning & Project Development, partner Gareth Phillips, who advocated at the public hearings on behalf of the Appellant, Cammell Laird. He was supported by associate Peter Cole.

WFW London partner Gareth Phillips, said: “I am very pleased that this facility has been given the go ahead because it will provide support to those nationally significant offshore wind projects in the Irish Sea, and offers Birkenhead the opportunity of new skilled jobs in that industry.”