Wirral Developments and Regeneration

[Kev]

AMBITIOUS proposals for a complete overhaul of the Birkenhead seafront opposite Liverpool's Three Graces have been revealed.

It follows lengthy research by planning consultants who were brought in by Wirral Council two years ago to develop a "masterplan" for the Woodside area.

The land near the Birkenhead ferry landing stage is seen by Wirral Council as offering "one of the World's most recognisable and spectacular views - that of the Liverpool waterfront".

'The report by planning consultants Building Design Partnership (BDP) who were commissioned to look at the area's future said "it clearly has massive redevelopment potential which needs to be managed to enhance the overall offer of this key strategic gateway into Wirral".'

The work has been overseen by Merseytravel, Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, Pierhead Housing Association, private land owners, including the owner of the Woodside Hotel and officers from the council.

The masterplan put forward would see a first phase of works to include the creation of a "development spine" running from the Woodside Ferry Terminal up to the corner of Hamilton Square at its junction with Hamilton Square Station.

The plan also calls for the development of a quality hotel as part of the package, and the aim is to draw a wider range of visitors into Birkenhead in the evening, both from the rest of Wirral and Liverpool.

Executive member for regeneration, Cllr Pat Hackett, said the scheme shows the authority's "ambitious programme for the waterfront in particular and Wirral in general".

He said: "The pieces of the jigsaw are now coming together, as Wirral and our partners across the region grasp the opportunities afforded to us by the Capital of Culture.

"This is one of many visionary projects that we are on the verge of implementing this next year, including the New Brighton Neptune development, Pride in our Promenades Initative, Birkenhead Town Centre developments, Cammell Laird's proposals and other schemes including a golf resort for Hoylake to build on our golf coast ambitions in light of the success of the Open Golf Championship.

"This scheme is particularly important as it right across from the Liverpool world heritage site.

"It sets it sights high in terms of quality and landmark buildings of a superior design. It will link up with Hamilton Square and Birkenhead town centre offering a mix of leisure facilities, housing and retail."

Last year, Liverpool-based Neptune Developments revealed they had struck a deal with the owner of the Woodside Hotel, opposite the ferry terminal, to redevelop the site as part of a wider scheme to regenerate the area.

Details were kept under wraps, but Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune, said he thought Wirral's waterfront "has been Liverpool's poor relation". He added: "I believe that Birkenhead's waterfront renaissance will begin at Woodside."

The latest update given to councillors says that private sector developers have already worked up proposals for Woodside that are broadly in line with the vision set by the masterplan, and adds: "This is very good news indeed."

Council officers now plan to consult with those involved with the aim of having the masterplan brought to the council for approval later this year.

source...

[wallasey]

It is fair to say that this area of Birkenhead is dead, even if it does have the Mersey Ferries ect!

These plans will breathe life into the town and is great to see. however, I would hope that this spurs on more development inside the town around byconway Street where prime sites remain vacant.

[Kev]

There have been some excellent stuff going on in the Park, restorations etc.. any pics?

[Kev]

Wirral Web Cams

HOYLAKE LIFEBOAT STATION



WEST KIRBY MARINE LAKE - WEST VIEW



HILBRE ISLAND LIVE CAMERA



LEASOWE LIGHTHOUSE LIVE CAMERA

[Paul D]

Exciting plans let's hope they come to something.

[wallasey]

There have been some excellent stuff going on in the Park, restorations etc.. any pics?

Not as of yet but I will be going to Birkenhead Sixth Form College which is opposite the park. I will be there on Aug 30th (regestration) so I can get some images for y'all!

[Kev]

Plans for a £73m redevelopment of the Wirral's waterfront at New Brighton have been rejected by the government.

Plans to build a supermarket, open air swimming pool, leisure venues and homes were approved by Wirral Borough Council last June.

But the government decided the development at the Kings Parade/Marine Promenade area would destroy sea views.

The company behind the plan, Neptune, says it is in talks with Wirral Council to look at alternative developments.

The decision was rubber-stamped by the department for Communities and Local Government, which is headed by Ruth Kelly MP.

The department's letter to Wirral Council talked about the concern of "the effect of the development on the views of the fort and lighthouse together, but considers that with good design... this impact could be limited".

The letter says that the scale of the proposed development would not be in keeping with the area.

Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune Developments, said the company was disappointed.

He said the scheme had enjoyed widespread backing from local residents, businesses and Wirral Council as well as agencies such as English Heritage.

source....

[Paul D]

Morrisons were taking the michael wanting to put their supermarket there,why can't they put it in the place where the new marine lake is going to be,why fill in the marine lake and put the supermarket there and then build a marine lake elsewhere it just doesn't make sense?second best shouldn't just be accepted just for the sake of it and I hope any concerns about the supermarket are put right before this can proceed,if not then forget it.

[wallasey]

The downside to all this is that the Floral Pavillion theatre may close. Wheather for good or for a spell is anyones guess. But they badly do need a new theatre especially as it is the big draw of New Brighton.

[Paul D]

From (page 9 of) today's Wirral Globe -

Firm says: There’s life in the old docks yet...

Exclusive By Geoff Barnes

THE COMPANY responsible for the transformation of Salford Quays and Liverpool John Lennon Airport has created a multi-million pound vision to breath new life into acres of dockland dereliction in Wirral.

Peel Holdings, owners of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, have been locked in talks with chief officers from Wirral Council and they used the Open Golf Championship to unveil their plans to a specially-invited audience which included council leader Cllr Steve Foulkes.

The company are staying tight-lipped about the content of their regeneration package until August 22 when a special presentation will be made at Wallasey town hall to all 66 members of the council and senior council officials. Cllr Foulkes said: "This is a major opportunity and challenge for all of us. Most people are well aware of Port Holdings' track record at Salford Quays and Liverpool Airport. They are a big player and they seem to have pretty massive plans for the dockland area which could effectively change the shape and direction of our regeneration strategy for many years to come.

"Peel Holdings have announced to us that they want to talk openly about their vision. It is not cut and dried - it is more of a vision at the moment. They are now going to the next stage of a general presentation and council members will be able to see for themselves what is involved."

Cllr Foulkes said Peel's docklands vision had already begun to take shape with the development, in collaboration with a development company, of former flour mills into luxury apartments at East Float.

He commented: "We need to allow them to set their stall out. It is quite exciting and it is good that at last the spotlight will be on this side of the water and not Liverpool."

Council regeneration chief Cllr Pat Hackett said: "There are massive plans afoot and exciting times ahead. Investment of this nature is long overdue on this side of the Mersey. Peel Holdings have the resources to do it and I believe that the potential of Wirral docklands is absolutely massive.

There are miles and miles of dereliction - the sad consequence of the demise of a once-thriving dockland area taking in both Birkenhead and Wallasey."

Cllr Foulkes conceded that the local authority had been "quite ruthless" in taking advantage of The Open's access to a worldwide audience to showcase the peninsula's business and tourism prospects.

Reddington Finance's massive redevelopment plans for the former Cammell Laird site was on display along with a special exhibition on Wirral International Business Park at Bromborough.

Among the special guests offered corporate hospitality by the local authority were representatives from six big Japanese corporations.

[Waterways]

From (page 9 of) today's Wirral Globe -

Firm says: There’s life in the old docks yet...

There wont be as they will try to fill them in at every opportunity.

Exclusive By Geoff Barnes

THE COMPANY responsible for the transformation of Salford Quays and Liverpool John Lennon Airport has created a multi-million pound vision to breath new life into acres of dockland dereliction in Wirral.

Peel Holdings, owners of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company,

Peel? Their canal link at Liverrpool was a stealth move to gain land to sell making vast amounts of money at pour expense. Not much else.

Look at the fine print, and thse people are not to be trusted. MDHC is a cosignatory of the World Heritage Site agreement, and are breaking the agreement with UNESCO at Central Docks.

[FKoE]

Fill 'em in plant plazzie palm trees......where once we watched the free gulls fly

[FKoE]

By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling
"Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyan's corn,
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."

Chorus:
Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown,
I rebelled, they cut me down.
Now you must raise our child with dignity."

By a lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived to hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

[Kev]

A CANARY-WHARF style redevelopment of Wirral docks is to be unveiled by the owners of Liverpool Airport.

A multi-million pound masterplan for the future of the Wallasey and Birkenhead dockland is expected to be revealed to Wirral councillors tomorrow.

The project has been described as giving the area "Isle of Dogs or Canary Wharf-style potential" by Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, who has been in discussions with developers Peel Holdings.

Details of the scheme are expected to be revealed in a presentation to Wirral Council by Peel, the company behind Manchester's Trafford Centre as well as Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The company remains publicly silent about its plans, but has consulted with senior political figures in the area, including Ms Eagle, who praised the "scale and ambition" of Peel's plan for the Wallasey-Birkenhead docks complex.

The MP said Peel differed from many developers in having a long-term plan spanning 30-plus years.

She said: "It's a very refreshing change, and, I think, that is why they are so successful. They have some fantastic achievements behind them.

"If they achieve half of what they have got their eyes on, it will be fantastic for the area and particularly for the local economy.

"There are a lot of things to be done between now and then. We have to see what happens in detail, and each proposal will have to be judged on its merit. But I can't fault them on their vision and their financial commitment to the area in the long term." read more......

[Paul D]

The project has been described as giving the area "Isle of Dogs or Canary Wharf-style potential" by Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, who has been in discussions with developers Peel Holdings.

It all looks promising it'll be interesting to see what they come up with.