PROPOSALS to release Green Belt land at sites across the borough so that more than 4,000 houses can be potentially built over the next 15 years have been outlined in a report.

A report, by St Helens Council's head of regeneration Mark Dickens, recommends proceeding with a Green Belt Review, which also involves sites that could be be released for employment development purposes.

Councillors were meeting on Wednesday at Cabinet to decide whether a consultation on the move will go ahead. The report acknowledges that the proposals will be controversial.

The Florida Farm site in Haydock, which is currently the subject of a widely debated planning application, is among the areas proposed to be released, as is the former Parkside site in Newton-le-Willows, where a major plans for a rail freight terminal are expected to be ready next year.

The report states that the council does not have a five-year housing supply, meaning its policies relating to housing are out-of-date and not consistent with national planning policy.

It adds: "There are insufficient suitable brownfield sites to accommodate our housing and employment needs now or for the new plan period of 2018 to 2033. Therefore it is necessary to release greenfield sites for development, including in the Green Belt."

According to the report, St Helens currently has 8,844 hectares of Green Belt, which makes up 65 per cent of the borough - the revised Green Belt would cover 56 per cent of the borough.

Neighbouring boroughs have less Green Belt land than St Helens, with Sefton having 51.4 per cent, Knowsley 48.7 per cent, Wirral 46.6 per cent and Liverpool 4.7 per cent.

The report adds: "St Helens has been very successful in the past at directing development to brownfield land, but it was inevitable that at some point that land supply was going to reduce and therefore the council would have to consider Green Belt release, especially given the significant amount of Green Belt in the borough."

It refers to strong market demand for logistics-based development, given the borough's strategic location in the North West in close proximity to the M6 and M62 motorways, and growth ambitions of the Liverpool City Region, with St Helens playing a key role.

At this stage, the 16 Green Belt sites proposed for release for potential housing are:

* Land adjoining Ash Grove Farm, Beacon Road, Billinge

* Land south of Billinge Road, east of Garswood Road and west of Smock Lane, Garswood

* Land at Florida Farm (south of A580), Slag Lane, Blackbrook

* Land east of Chapel Lane and south of Walkers Lane, Sutton Manor

* Land south of Gartons Lane and former St Theresa's Social Club, Gartons Lane, Bold

* Land south of Reginald Road/Bold Road - Northern Section (Phase 1), Bold

* Land between Vista Road and Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows

* Eccleston Park Golf Club, Rainhill Road, Eccleston

* Higher Barrowfield Farm, Houghton's Lane, Eccleston

* Land south west of M6 J23 between Vista Road and Lodge Lane, Haydock

* Land at Moss Bank Farm, Moss Bank Road, Moss Bank

* Former Newton Community Hospital (Simms Ward), Bradlegh Road, Newton-le-Willows

* Former Red Bank Community Home, Winwick Road, Newton-le-Willows

* Land south east of Lords Fold, Rainford

* Land south of Higher Lane and east of Rookery Lane, Rainford

* Land south of A580 between Houghtons Lane and Crantock Grove, Windle

The largest developments would be at Florida Farm, Gartons Lane, Rainhill Road, Vista Road and Houghtons Lane.

The sites were selected based on criteria including access, ecology, heritage, proportionate distribution across the borough; and close proximity to employment areas.

In total, 289 hectares out of the 306 hectares required for employment land is proposed to be allocated in the Green Belt across eight sites. The 306 hectares are allocated for development at the following 12 sites:

* Omega South Western Extension, Phase 1, Land north of Finches Plantation, Bold

* Florida Farm North, Slag Lane, Haydock

* Land north of Penny Lane, Haydock

* Land north east of Junction 23 M6, south of Haydock Racecourse, Haydock

* Land south of Penny Lane, Haydock

* Land to the west of Haydock Industrial Estate, Haydock

* Land west of Millfield Lane, south of Liverpool Road and north of Clipsley Brook, Haydock

* Parkside East, Newton-le-Willows

* Parkside West, Newton-le-Willows

* Land to the west of Sandwash Close, Rainford

* Land at Lea Green Farm West, Thatto Heath

* Gerards Park, Phases 2 and 3, College Street, St Helens town centre

The largest developments would be the two at Parkside as well as Finches Plantation, Florida Farm and land north east of Junction 23 M6.

The report acknowledges that a high level of opposition is expected, saying: "The issue of Green Belt release is highly controversial and the proposed approach, whilst aiming to plan positively for socio-economic growth for the people and businesses of St Helens, is likely to be met by a lot of opposition and lobbying against the plan."

The Green Belt Review ties into St Helens Local Plan which will set out visions and objectives for the borough until 2033.

It is proposed the plans go out to public consultation early in December for an eight-week period until January 30, 2017.