It now appears that Havens have found a site that isn’t greenbelt and should be suitable for their needs.

“The appeal lodged by Havens Hospices against the decision of the Council to refuse planning permission for a hospice building on land south of Belton Way West, Leigh, has been postponed following a joint request from the Council and Havens Hospice.

The Planning Inspectorate has agreed to postpone the Public Inquiry for a period of four months to enable the Hospice to explore the potential of locating on the former EKCO site at Priory Crescent.”

As this has now been postponed, I understand that planning officers will now be meeting with Havens to discuss the details of how they might able to progress their planning application on the EKCO site. I’m sure there will be difficulties along the way, but let’s hope these can be thrashed out.

Great news and I hope we can move forward from the last few years of “the greenbelt distraction” and go back to being in awe of what Havens does for those in need of care and support in the final period of their life.