Four plans approved by council that could ‘transform’ the peninsula
According to the planning documents, there are broader plans of over 9,000 homes across central Birkenhead and 6,000 new jobs could be generated. More widely, a framework previously published by the authority states that there will be over 21,000 new homes delivered in Birkenhead supporting an increase of 46,000 people to help combat an ageing population. The plans were approved by councillors at a regeneration committee meeting on July 16 and will go towards supporting the council's Local Plan which is currently under government inspection.
While the documents outline grand ambitions going forward, some are already out of date in parts after several developments have been shelved or reviewed. The local authority is also facing increasing pressure to deliver on its promises after fears the council is rowing back on plans or changing things without considering its wider impact on its strategy to revive Birkenhead and other parts of the borough. This is crucial for the Labour-led authority which is hoping the Local Plan will be approved imminently after promises by the new government to boost housebuilding.
One of the plans that has been approved is the Dock Branch neighbourhood scheme, which is intended to run alongside the Dock Branch Park, a new park along an old railway line that runs through central Birkenhead. The park is considered a catalyst to make the town more attractive for investment. Though the park plans are currently delayed and under review, the new neighbourhood is described as "having the potential to deliver around 1,200 new homes in next 5-15 years" to help give Birkenhead "an attractive and regionally distinctive housing offer." The park and neighbourhood plans also hope to provide more natural habitat in the town centre as well as capitalise on leisure and cultural venues like Future Yard, Molly's Chambers, the Northern Power House, Capitol Chinese restaurant, Sawasdee Thai restaurant, and the Wirral Transport Museum.
The documents said: "Dock Branch Neighbourhood is home to a limited evening and night time economy that comprises restaurants, bars, pubs, hot food takeaways and live music venues. Growing this offer will be a key component of successfully transforming Dock Branch's image into an appealing destination to live, work and visit. "The evening and night time economy should be diversified towards a small scale, independent culture-led offer to include uses such as an independent cinema, boutique hotel, pop-up restaurants, food hall, exhibition space and performing arts venues; concentrating these on Argyle Street and Market Street."
Other plans include nurseries, play spaces, fitness hubs, a community event hall, workspaces and community cafes as well as allotments. There could be options for "an art house cinema, boutique hotel, exhibition space, and rehearsal and performance space." Developments could see new buildings as high as ten storeys and there are wider plans to link these in with plans for a mass transit network.
While few details have been released about this network, the documents suggest a route could go along Canning Street, Corporation Road, Europa Boulevard, Conway Street, and into Birkenhead town centre Near to the Dock Branch neighbourhood is the planned Cleveland Street neighbourhood. This plan proposes to change what is currently an industrial area with over 300 businesses into "playable tree-lined streets linking intimate squares and parks, with social infrastructure, services and workspaces on the doorstep."
The masterplan said: "Duke St will become a high street with places to shop and exchange, and with Duke Park as a civic respite to a busy high street. Cleveland St will link it with the neighbourhood hub of Berner Square and the town centre beyond. "The square, complete with a primary school, a nursery, play facilities, a grocery store and a cafe, will be a focal point of the area." While around 1,200 homes are proposed, "scattered among the new buildings will be the retained edifices of the industrial past, some still used as business spaces, others converted to residential uses."
Approximately half of the new homes will be houses and maisonettes with homes getting gradually taller the closer towards the docks you go. Some could be as tall as 13 storeys with proposals for new restaurants, shops, bakeries, community supermarkets, and delis too. The plans aim to restore The Old English Gentleman Pub as well as preserve what remains of Birkenhead Brewery.
There are also plans for new cycle parking, some on street parking as well as multi storey communal car parks A new courtyard will be created called Middle Walk while it will also be part of the proposed mass transit network extending from Wirral Waters to Birkenhead Park and its nearby Merseyside Station. However there will be development challenges due to flood risks, contamination from industrial use as well as noise and air pollution.
Outside of Birkenhead, two masterplans were also approved. New Brighton's plans hope to capitalise on the recent efforts to regenerate the resort from Marine Point to the efforts of Rockpoint Leisure on Victoria Road. While the plans said the resort "is not reaching it's past glories," the local authority is hoping to replicate similar success stories in places like Margate.
The document said there could be up to 495 new homes, adding: "Marine Promenade is a landmark location, it is a place with amazing assets focusing attention and activity here with a theatre and events venue, a Grade II* Listed Fort and Lighthouse, and one of only a few Marine Lakes in the country. "The masterplan will look to create a context for future improvements to these facilities, and their landscape setting. It will look to establish a context for wider regeneration through changing the use of streets, dominance of car parking, greening streets, connectivity to the wider town, and adding passive surveillance to the streets throughout the day."
The plans include a new lido in the marine lake with options ranging from GBP2m to GBP40m as well as a pop up beach park. A plaza could be created outside the Floral as well as possible new hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars. However public feedback raised concerns about parking and high rise buildings.
In terms of parking, the local authority is considering making Perch Rock car park temporary "by only being in-use at peak times" as well as reducing parking along the seafront. There are also plans to improve cycle links around Marine Point with new mini parks along the prom. Also in Wallasey are the plans for Northside which the local authority is planning to turn into a major employment hub with 23,000 square metres of employment space.
600 jobs, 57 hectares of green space and 573 parking spaces. The location's proximity to the Wallasey tunnel and the M53 motorway are also highlighted. According to the planning documents, the site is dominated by the SMM Business Park but "the future development potential at Northside is materially linked to a sound understanding of the need for business relocation across Birkenhead.
Northside in particular has been identified within the Framework as the strategic location to accommodate relocation and enable the wider strategy delivery." One area in Northside the council has already bought is the former gas works site in the area though this is currently leased to West Wallasey Van Hire. Going forward, the local authority said it "will need to acquire further or enter into agreements with major landowners to enable this relocation strategy to be implemented."
As part of the plans to build new employment buildings and storage space on the site, the local authority is also thinking of expanding walking and cycling routes in the area due to the high number of heavy goods vehicles on the roads.
New green areas are also proposed with the opportunity for mixed use social hotspots lining up with sports, creative, and cultural venues.