Voting underway on huge Wirral regeneration scheme
The council led Wirral regeneration scheme could see 13,000 new homes being completed within the next 15 years.
Wirral Council’s draft Local Plan, will guide the council’s housing policy over the next 15 years. It explains various regeneration projects in Birkenhead, Bromborough, and New Brighton. The scheme was approved by all councillors in March 2022. Currently the plan is being inspected by the government.
Key considerations
The draft Local Plan’s has two key commitments
- Protecting the countryside. Wirral countryside will remain unspoiled
- Focusing on areas that need regeneration. This is to create more wealth and prosperity in areas that are lagging. Birkenhead, Seacombe, New Brighton, and Bromborough are the likely benefactors.
Property Construction
If the plan is successful, the Wirral will get 16,322 new homes. There is a target to deliver 13,360 homes within 15 years.
Currently the hearing is underway. Next there will be a chance for appeals which will be reviewed again in September.
Cllr Williamson explains, “The Local Plan has at its heart the transformation of the eastern part of the Borough. The Plan makes the best use of the extraordinary opportunity presented by the vast amount of brownfield land, while protecting the green belt. We see the Local Plan as doing the right things for the right reasons.”
She added: “With the Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework, we believe we have the biggest opportunity in the country to utilise brownfield land to create a new town within an old town in Birkenhead.
Green Initiatives
“Over the life of this Local Plan and beyond, this Framework will help create a new vibrant, attractive, green and sustainable low carbon town. It will match the successful regeneration of Liverpool city centre.”
Cllr Williamson said the plan would focus on providing homes for families and “contains proposals that will involve the biggest changes to Birkenhead since the Second World War.”
Contestation
Not everyone is in favour of the scheme to build on brownfield land. Leverhulme Estates prefer to build on greenbelt land. This alternative would allow for larger spaces, better supporting infrastructure like roads, as well as more affordable homes. However, Wirral Council argues developable land on brownfield sites will provide enough houses.
Other criticisms were raised. Some people have argued that the policy is focused too much on the eastern side of the borough and would “starve” places like Heswall and West Kirby of new housing.
Mr Boyle said Leverhulme was not against regeneration projects in Birkenhead and Bromborough but “it is the scale and concentration and all the problems which that causes, and the drying up of supply to the rest of the borough.”
Regeneration
Regeneration initiatives can have a very positive impact on an area. Many schemes in Liverpool have transformed the city and resulted in substantial inward investment. At present there are several ongoing schemes.
Liverpool City Council is spearheading an ambitious regeneration strategy for the city which is creating 40,000 jobs and delivering £11 billion of investment over the next ten years.
Knowledge Quarter
The recent Science and Innovation Audit (SIA) highlighted Liverpool City Region’s three world-class strengths; infection, materials chemistry and high performance & cognitive computing. Knowledge Quarter Liverpool is home to some of the world’s most influential players in science, health, technology, culture and education, with over £1bn of new developments already underway.
Ten Streets Initiative
This vision is based on Ten Big Ideas with a set of guiding principles and initial ideas that will define a place with a distinctive personality and purpose. It is about nurturing the assets and opportunities that are unique to this part of the city. The scheme includes a stunning maritime architecture, a diverse commercial and industrial heritage and a pivotal location. You can find out more about the ten streets initiative here.
Liverpool Science Park
The Sciontec vision is to develop and operate the most innovative science and technology buildings in the world. Liverpool Science Park offers stunning Grade A office space and laboratories in the heart of the city’s Knowledge Quarter. Whilst the Spine is a brand new £35m Grade-A office building, at the heart of Paddington Central, and the new northern home of the Royal College of Physicians. It’s also the inaugural location for Sciontec AI.
Liverpool Waters
Liverpool Waters is a £5.5bn project that aimed to regenerate Liverpool’s docklands that will extend 2km along the River Mersey. It is headed by the Peel Group, who have already successfully transformed Salford Keys in Manchester in a ground breaking regeneration project. Not only does the project aim to build a new cruise terminal on 60 acres of derelict dockland, but it also includes the construction of over 9,000 apartments, offices, hotels and bars.
Wirral Waters
Wirral waters in a major Wirral regeneration scheme. It is the sister programme of the Liverpool Waters project and together they make up the Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone. Both projects enjoy enterprise zone status, which offers attractive incentives to businesses to invest there, including business rates discounts, superfast broadband and flexibility in terms of use of floor space.
Esper Wealth
At Esper Wealth we look for investment projects that offer investors a great return on investment and also improves the local community. Regeneration zones frequently tick both boxes. From an investment perspective, as a community regenerates, property prices will rise in the local area. This creates value for investors. If you would like to know more about the best investment hotspots then contact us today to find out more.