ST HELENS North MP Conor McGinn has said he understands "a balance must be struck" in addressing residents' concerns and preparing the borough for the future, following the closure of the consultation on the Local Plan.

In a letter to council chief executive Mike Palin in response to the plans, the Labour MP says he backs visions to make St Helens "an attractive place to live, work and visit".

The Preferred Options of the Local Plan sets out how many new homes need to be built and how much employment land needs to be found for the period between 2018 and 2033.

The controversial proposals would see the area's green belt decreased from 65 per cent to 56 per cent of the borough.

Plans have met strong opposition, with campaign groups set up in different areas across the borough to be affected by plans to release green belt land.

Mr McGinn wrote: "I fully support the ambition to win investment and create employment in our borough, making the most of the opportunities afforded to us by our location in the heart of the North West situated between Manchester and Liverpool."

The MP added: "Many of my constituents have expressed concerns about the amount of green belt land the plan proposes to release.

"If the council believes and can demonstrate it has no alternatives to the release of green belt for housing then it could address some of those concerns by, for example, considering a stepped housing target, with identified land released in phases rather than altogether with a focus maintained on bringing back into use brownfield sites.

"I am disappointed that the funding historically provided by the UK Government to bring brownfield sites back into use has been stopped, which makes it difficult to decontaminate land previously used by industry in areas like Parr."

Mr McGinn also said the council must take into account impact on transport infrastructure and "capacity of local schools, NHS and other services and their ability to meet the demands of an increasing population in the areas identified in the plan for housing".

He added: "I recognise the high level of demand from the logistics sector because of our location, and I welcome the job opportunities this will bring for local residents, but we must encourage the delivery of a range of employment opportunities including the creation of highly skilled jobs.

"I understand the challenges faced in producing a local plan and the balance which must be struck in addressing the concerns of residents and in equipping the borough for the future. I hope the issues and points I have raised will be taken into account".