Hoylake Beach Town and Village Green Application

We asked

A group of local residents applied to register part of Hoylake Beach as a Town or Village Green (TVG). As the registration authority, the Council sought views on the application through a public consultation and invited residents, visitors and other interested parties to share their comments and evidence regarding the proposal.

You said

A total of 1,343 responses were received.

Overall, 85.6% of respondents supported the application, 12.0% opposed it, and 2.4% neither supported nor opposed it.

Those supporting the application most commonly cited:

  • Preserving the area as a place for recreation.
  • Ensuring the beach is maintained.
  • Improving accessibility and usability of the beach for current and future generations.

Those opposing the application most commonly cited:

  • Concerns that the natural beach environment should continue to develop naturally.
  • Concerns regarding the interaction between TVG status and existing environmental protections.
  • Concerns that Town and Village Green legislation was being used to influence wider beach management issues.

Alongside the consultation, an independent inspector considered written submissions, legal issues and evidence relating to the use of the land by local people over the relevant 20-year period.

We did

The Council appointed an independent inspector to review the application and make recommendations. Following a public hearing held in August 2026, the inspector concluded that the legal tests for registration had been met, including that a significant number of local residents had used the land for lawful sports and pastimes "as of right" over the required 20-year period.

The application was considered by the Planning Committee on 1 October 2026. Having reviewed the inspector's findings and recommendations, the committee approved the application and agreed to register the relevant area of Hoylake Beach as a Town or Village Green.

The decision means the registered area now benefits from the legal protections associated with Town or Village Green status, recognising its long-standing use by local people for recreation and informal leisure activities.