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The message to developers is simple: it’s time to deliver for the Wirral

I’ve heard heartbreaking stories about the impact of the housing crisis on the Wirral. The scale of the challenge is stark. 

Between 2023 and 2024, 5,636 people at risk of homelessness sought help from the Council. The number placed in hotels and B&Bs has doubled since 2021, with the cost of temporary accommodation soaring from £406,418 in 2019 to a projected £1.6 million in 2023/24. This is unaffordable and unsustainable. Change is long overdue. 

But tackling this crisis isn’t just about building houses – it’s about creating homes. We need high-quality homes in the right places, supported by infrastructure, transport, and jobs. New homes can unlock opportunity in neglected areas – turning empty industrial buildings, abandoned shops, and rundown streets into vibrant places to live. 

To make real progress, we must hold developers to account. Across the country, big housebuilders are sitting on plots for 501,691 homes. Sites of over 2,000 homes often take over 14 years to complete. That simply isn’t good enough. 

On the Wirral, brownfield sites with planning permission remain untouched as developers hold out for bigger profits. Meanwhile, families are priced out, young people leave, and our precious green spaces come under threat. These aren’t distant problems – they affect our neighbours, friends, and families. 

Labour is determined to act. We’ve launched the New Homes Accelerator to speed up stalled housing developments. Just last month, we announced a major reform: for the first time, developers will have to agree a timeframe before planning permission is granted. 

Those who repeatedly fail to build, or who use planning permissions to trade land for profit, could face a ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’ – with funds going straight to local planning authorities. 

Here on the Wirral, there has been progress – the completion of Millers Quay has delivered 500 much-needed new homes. I welcome that. But only last year, it was reported that Wirral Waters was seven years behind its target of 1,100 homes by 2025. 

Developers cannot be allowed to exploit the system by building on Green Belt land, leaving viable brownfield sites unused.  

The message to developers is simple: It’s time to deliver for the Wirral. 

Originally published in the Wirral Globe

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Matthew supports Wirral charities with Omaze

Peter Powell/Omaze

Four charities on the Wirral have received a £25,000 donation – split equally four ways – from entertainment company with a social purpose, Omaze, following its recent house draw in the area.

Omaze was introduced to the four charities by Matthew Patrick MP, Member of Parliament for Wirral West.

The beneficiaries of the donation are Tomorrow’s Women, which supports and empowers women experiencing difficulties; Barnstondale – an inclusive outdoor activity centre supporting over 6,000 children each year from all backgrounds; Carrbridge Centre – a community centre on a large housing estate that aims to steer young people towards positive paths and Claire House – a hospice for terminally ill children, helping 500 families per year.

Omaze recently ran a house draw on the Wirral – in which a five bedroom house worth £3 million – along with £250,000 in cash, was won by a 24-year-old nanny and raised £3.5 million for Scouts.

Tomorrow’s Women in Birkenhead provides targeted support across a range of areas including financial, mental health, domestic abuse, social isolation and substance abuse – and plans to use its £6,250 share to fund staff training for their stalking and harassment programme.

Barnstondale provides inclusive outdoor experiences for schools, youth groups, and charities. With 25% of visitors having additional needs and 1 in 3 facing financial hardship, our bursary scheme helps those most in need. This £6,250 donation will directly support them, ensuring access to their centre.

As there is no youth centre in the area for young people aged over 13 years old, Carrbridge Centre on the Woodchurch, will use the Omaze funding to cover much needed support with its staff. The new funds will provide one “Omaze Youth Active session” per week – for an entire year. 

Claire House Children’s Hospice in Bebington can use the funds to provide a month of ‘Butterfly Care’ which is a place for a family to be with their child after they have passed.

Matthew Patrick MP, Member of Parliament for Wirral West, said: “Across the Wirral, charities and volunteers contribute so much to our community, providing support and services to those who need it most. 

“It was great to meet with Omaze and introduce them to the four amazing organisations who they’re donating to. 

“The £25,000 donation will make a huge impact for people on the Wirral, keeping important services running and delivering new activities for young people on the Woodchurch.”

Siobhan Waters, Fundraising and Communications Manager, Barnstondale Centre, said: “We are incredibly grateful to be one of the four charities benefiting from these much-needed funds. Omaze’s support has helped part-fund activity days and residential trips at Barnstondale, creating a life-changing impact – not just for the 55 children who directly benefited, but also for their families, teachers, and communities. 

“The confidence, resilience and teamwork skills they develop at Barnstondale will stay with them for life. Thanks to your generosity, we can continue our mission to ensure no child is left behind, giving more young people the chance to experience the joy of outdoor learning with their friends – creating memories that last a lifetime.”

Natasha Walker, Omaze, said: “Everyone at Omaze is absolutely delighted we have been able to make a contribution to these four fantastic charities.

“I was honoured to visit Barnstondale, to meet representatives from all four charities and hear about the incredible people who are providing such vital community services.

“Omaze will continue to help more local causes in the areas where we host our house draws, wherever possible.” 

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Matthew welcomes Government plan to clear local backlog of 158,156 patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment

Patients in Wirral West will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster with Labour’s plan to tackle hospital backlogs.

  • Hundreds of thousands more appointments in the North West to be created through plan to get people the treatment they need quicker.
  • Patients in Wirral West to feel the impact of greater patient choice over follow-up care as part of a drive to open-up one million appointments, alongside better use of tech and other action to save another million missed appointments.
  • Reforms mark next step in delivering government’s Plan for Change to deliver for working people.

Patients in Wirral West will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster under a new plan to tackle hospital backlogs set out by the Prime Minister last week (6 January).

In the North West there are 1,063,560 cases on waiting lists at huge cost to their health.

Tackling the 7.5million strong waiting list inherited from the Tories so that the NHS once again meets the 18-week standard for planned treatment is a key milestone in the Government’s Plan for Change. Restoring this standard will mean patients in Wirral West no longer have to have their lives put on hold.

Currently, too many patients face long waits for appointments or surgeries and may be referred to hospitals they don’t choose at inconvenient times, while appointments and staff time are being lost to inefficiencies or inconsistencies in care. In the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board area, which covers Wirral West, there are 367,350 cases on waiting lists, with 158,156 waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.

The Labour Government’s Elective Reform Plan, published by NHS England, sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. This includes opening Community Diagnostic Centres on evenings and weekends so that many more people will be able to access tests and checks while going about their daily lives. The NHS will also increase the number of surgical hubs, which help protect planned care from the impact of seasonal and other pressures.

The plan will drive forward progress on the Government’s first steps commitment to deliver 2 million extra appointments in its first year, equivalent to 40,000 every week. The reforms will put patients first, harness technology to support staff and help the NHS to do things more efficiently.

Under the plan, 65% of patients will be treated within 18 weeks by the end of next year. Based on the size of the current waiting list, that would mean a fall of more than 450k people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“This Government promised change and that is what I am fighting every day to deliver.

“NHS backlogs have ballooned in recent years, leaving millions of patients languishing on waiting lists, often in pain or fear. Lives on hold. Potential unfulfilled.

“This elective reform plan will deliver on our promise to end the backlogs. Millions more appointments. Greater choice and convenience for patients. Staff once again able to give the standard of care they desperately want to.

“This is a key plank of our Plan for Change, which will drive growth that puts more money in people’s pockets, secures our borders and makes the NHS fit for the future so what working people live longer, healthier, more prosperous lives.”

Matthew Patrick, MP for Wirral West, said: “Hundreds of residents in Wirral West are stuck on the record long waiting lists inherited by the Labour Government at huge cost to their health.

“Whenever I’m out in our community, people tell me about the need to get the NHS back on track, and of their experience of a system left to decline under the Conservatives. 

“We are getting on with the job of delivering. That’s why I welcome the reforms announced by the Prime Minister to cut NHS waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks. It will make such a huge difference.

“With so many people waiting for treatment, it is more urgent than ever that we reform our NHS so it will always be there for you when you need it.”

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Matthew supports brownfield development and calls for urgent action to end housing crisis

The Government has announced new housing targets in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in order to tackle the housing crisis in the UK. The announcement comes following Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years. The Government confirmed that brownfield land must be the “first port of call” for development.

The housing crisis is impacting many people on the Wirral, with the numbers of people in temporary accommodation in the borough doubling since 2021 and homelessness rising. Temporary accommodation now costs Wirral Council a projected £1.6m a year, up from £406,418 in 2019.

Matthew Patrick, MP for Wirral West, said that this is “unsustainable” and that “urgent action” was needed to ensure everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.

In the House of Commons, Matthew highlighted to the Housing Minister the thousands on waiting lists for housing on the Wirral, and welcomed the Government’s brownfield first approach. He also asked the Minister to confirm the support Wirral Council would get from the Government to ensure that housing was built in the right places.

Following the Government’s statement in the Commons, Matthew said:

“The housing crisis is impacting many people on the Wirral, with many forced to move away to get onto the property ladder. Urgent action is needed so children can grow up and stay in our area, and families can find affordable places to live.

“People on the Wirral have been clear that brownfield first is their preference, alongside the desperately-needed regeneration of Wallasey and Birkenhead. I agree and I have taken action on this to deliver the change Wirral voted for at the election. I want to see regeneration and development in areas that need it, and to protect our green spaces.

“I submitted representations to the NPPF consultation which addressed the need to unlock viable building on brownfield sites, so that we can protect the greenbelt which contributes so much to our lives and our environment here in Wirral West.

“I also highlighted the risk of speculative planning applications. Developers should not be allowed to refuse to build on brownfield land and speculate on our beautiful countryside while our community is left with empty industrial buildings, shuttered shops, and poor-quality housing.

“I will continue working with Wirral Council and with other MPs to ensure that affordable, decent homes are built in the right places and that the council has the right support to deliver for local people.”

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Matthew hosts discussion on assisted dying

Matthew standing in front of a group of people taking notes

Thank you to everyone who came to the discussion I hosted about assisted dying in Hoylake yesterday.

It’s an emotive subject, and people shared powerful, personal stories and perspectives. The discussion drew on the deep expertise of people in Wirral West, and, in our best traditions, was reasonable and thoughtful.

If you’re a constituent and would like to share your views with me, please email my office to share your perspective.

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Government announces £3m Household Support Fund Grant for Wirral

  • Wirral Council allocated over £3m as part of Household Support Fund extension.
  • Millions of families to be supported with cost-of-living support this winter.
  • Local MP welcomes swift action to support those in need.

The Government has TODAY (27 September) announced more than £3 million in cost-of-living support for families on the Wirral.

Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, announced earlier this month that the Household Support Fund (HSF) would be extended for a further six months, until 31 March 2025. The scheme provides money to local authorities to deliver essential help to the most vulnerable people in society.

Wirral Council has been given an HSF Grant of £3,049,345.09 as part of a wider package of £421 million being provided to local authorities across England.

Matthew Patrick, MP for Wirral West, has welcomed the Government’s investment in tackling poverty and ensuring those in the most need across the Wirral are supported. He said: “I’m pleased to see the new Labour government acting swiftly to ensure support is available for those feeling the harsh impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.

“We are already working hard to deliver change – to eradicate the root causes of poverty and prevent hardship – but I know many people in our community will be relieved to see short-term support continue.

“If you or anyone you know is struggling this winter, please get in touch with my office or Wirral Council to explore the support available to you.”

Wirral Council previously delivered support to families and pensioners struggling with the cost of living through the HSF, helping with the cost of water and energy, as well as funding community projects, foodbanks, debt support and holiday activities for children.