Strategic Regeneration Framework

A blueprint for economic growth in Wirral 2017-2020 DRAFT

1 CONTENTS

Foreword by Cllr Phil Davies, Leader of Wirral Council 3

Executive Summary 4

Our Vision for Wirral 5

Context for Growth 6

Delivering Growth 12

Key Investment Opportunities 13 Birkenhead Town Centre 16 Hamilton Square 19 Woodside 22 Wirral Waters 26 The A41 Corridor 31 Borough Wide Investment Opportunities 35

2 Strategic Regeneration Framework

FOREWORD

Driving regeneration, creating jobs and The opportunities set out in this Framework ensuring sustainable, long-term growth in our are based on an assessment of what is economy is vitally important. This Strategic realistically deliverable, but they will require Regeneration Framework provides the route- focused energy and resources from a range of map to achieve it. It clearly defines our plans partners including the private sector if they for future development and investment by are to be achieved. providing the robust evidence base, sound principles and strategic drivers on which to As a member of the Liverpool City Region plan future regeneration. Combined Authority we are working to implement our Devolution Deal with Our Wirral Plan places economic growth at its Government and the Strategic Regeneration heart: making sure our residents are able to Framework reflects the priorities and access good, high paying jobs in a stable and approach as outlined within the City Region’s thriving economy brings almost immeasurable Growth Strategy. There has been strong joint benefits to all areas of our community, and working across the city region for many years, helps brings us closer to achieving all of our but establishing clear city region priorities for 20 pledges. attracting investment, business support transport and assets is clearly supported by The Framework provides confidence and our progress as a Combined Authority. certainty to residents, stakeholders and investors by being clear about our ambitions, We have not been standing still in recent plans and vision for the borough. years, much has been achieved, but we look forward to working together with greater drive The Council will provide a clear leadership and pace in order to realise our shared vision role, but involvement, joint working and for the borough. integration with partners will be a major feature of the Strategic Regeneration Framework’s delivery. The Framework identifies opportunities for the private sector to take forward and help shape the delivery of our ambitions and we will work with partners such as Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Mersey Maritime to ensure there is a strong private sector input to our plans.

Our plans for the future reflect our understanding of Wirral’s growth and regeneration potential, the strengths of our communities and the inherent opportunities of our sector strengths in areas such as Cllr Phil Davies advanced manufacturing, energy and the maritime economy.

3 Strategic Regeneration Framework

Executive summary

The Wirral Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) sets out the priorities and challenges for The SRF balances a longer term vision for economic growth in the borough, to help creating new places in Wirral, aimed at guide and proactively drive investment and strengthening housing and commercial activity across Wirral to deliver our ambitions markets with a series of short term catalyst for the local economy. projects to start to change and shape places in line with the Vision. With a particular initial focus on the areas of significant growth potential identified and Therefore the overriding purpose of the SRF is agreed in the Wirral Growth Plan (Birkenhead to put in place a clear, shared and delivery Town Centre, Birkenhead Hinterland, Wirral focused framework to guide regeneration and Waters Enterprise Zone (EZ) and the A41 to co-ordinate and secure public and private corridor); the SRF will align the key sector investment. development opportunities with relevant national, regional and local strategies to The SRF will: deliver sustainable and accelerated growth. • Set out a vision for economic growth in The Wirral Growth Plan translates our Wirral ambitions for economic growth into a clear • Provide a strategic context for guiding direction of travel to ensure we deliver regeneration, housing and planning outcomes which enable all residents to interventions contribute to and benefit from sustained • Set a broad spatial framework within which prosperity, able to enjoy a good quality of life investment can be planned, places can be in a high quality environment. The SRF created and shaped and guided so its provides further detail on our spatial priorities impact on the 20 Pledges in the Wirral Plan and shows how we are integrating them with is maximised our thematic actions in areas such as housing, • Build investor confidence through identifying tourism, transport, environment, employment a portfolio of strategic regeneration and skills, and sustainability. programmes and activities • Ensure links with existing regeneration and To meet this challenge we will continue to investment projects across the borough provide an environment which supports our and with emerging national and city region residents and our existing businesses to policy initiatives. unlock and take advantage of these economic • Set out the linkages with the liverpool City opportunities. However, we will also look to Region (LCR) Devolution Deal and Northern the future, encouraging investment into new Powerhouse growth and infrastructure sectors to generate jobs and growth in the proposals. forthcoming years.

4 our VISION for wirral

Wirral is poised for significant change: the Wirral also has the opportunity to further its Northern Powerhouse agenda, the historic reputation for its independent sectors, music Devolution agreement and world-class offer and retail to anchor and underpin the available to businesses combine to create a development of new places and spaces. once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Wirral’s economy for its residents both now In addition Wirral has nationally significant and for generations to come. economic development projects such as Wirral Waters EZ and key growth sectors such as Wirral is a key gateway to the Northern advanced manufacturing, maritime, visitor Powerhouse. We have set out our ambition for economy, energy and offshore renewables Wirral in our Vision 2020 and Growth Plans. (one of the largest wind farms in the world is Already one of the most attractive places in the being constructed in Liverpool Bay and one of UK to live and do business, Wirral combines the the largest tidal ranges in Europe with benefits of modern living and a thriving local significant potential to generate sustained economy – it is a beautiful place, host of energy), all of which provide unprecedented globally significant sporting events and is opportunities. well-connected to the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond. It also boasts a unique waterfront The time is right to accelerate delivery of the location facing arguably the UK’s finest civic development opportunities across the Borough panorama – the Liverpool Waterfront. in order to drive forward the Growth Plan vision of sustainable growth where:

“Wirral will be a place where employers want to invest, business thrives and high quality jobs are provided and where all our residents are able to contribute to and benefit from sustained prosperity and a good quality of life in a high quality environment.”

5 context FOR GROWTH

There are a number of factors that position Wirral to deliver transformational growth:

LOCATION Wirral growth company

Wirral, part of the Liverpool City Region, is We are creating a Joint Venture Public/Private positioned as the western gateway to the company to drive market-led development at Northern Powerhouse. With one of the pace. fastest growing economies in the UK, unique physical characteristics, plus access to a pool of highly skilled talent, we are seizing the PEOPLE AND SKILLS unprecedented opportunity provided by the Liverpool City Region Devolution deal to build Our people are also our key strength. We have on our successes, address some of our a population of almost 321,000, and a working remaining challenges and put Wirral and the age population of over 194,000 of which 69% Liverpool City Region at the heart of the are in employment. Within a one hour drive Northern Powerhouse. there are a further 6 million people providing access to a pool of highly skilled talent to recruit from with over 1.2 million graduates. BUSINESS BASE The city region is home to 4 universities, including an elite Russell Group Institution with Already home to global businesses such as a total of 12 universities within an hour’s drive. Unilever, Cammell Laird, Bristol Myers Squibb and Typhoo Tea, Wirral’s economy is worth £4.7 billion GVA contributing 16% of the wider CONNECTIVITY £29.4 billion GVA city region economy. With nearly 8,500 enterprises our business Our national and global connectivity is a major base continues to grow with a net gain of over competitive advantage with two international 1,000 businesses in the last two years. We are airports within a 45 minute drive serving over proud of our thriving small business base, with 200 global destinations. The £300m Liverpool2 our 88% of enterprises being micro businesses deep water container terminal has transformed which continue to sustain and grow. freight and logistics for the city region and the UK and we have outstanding national motorway and rail networks with the West KEY SECTORS Coast Mainline providing a two hour journey time to London. Our excellent commuter • Advanced manufacturing infrastructure links to Liverpool and North • Energy Wales and Chester. • Maritime • Visitor economy The Strategic Regeneration Framework will ensire that our vibrant economy continues to grow by providing the conditions within which investment is encouraged and supported.

6 Strategic Regeneration Framework

GVA

WIRRAL GVA PER HEAD FAST GROWING GVA PER HEAD (2015)

ST WIRRAL 1 IN LIVERPOOL CITY REGION ECONOMY WORTH ND 2 IN NORTHWEST £4.6BN TH NATIONALLY 6

JOB DENSITY

NARROWING GAP WITH LCR, NW & ENGLAND WIRRAL LCR, PER WIRRAL 2014 NW, 60JOBS ENGLAND

LCR, 100PEOPLE WIRRAL 2015 NW, (2015) ENGLAND (2014-2015)

EMPLOYEE JOBS WEEKLY WORKPLACE EARNINGS

PUBLIC SECTOR WIRRAL BELOW LCR, NW & ENGLAND AVERAGE % % PROPORTION 39 26 OF FTE JOBS WIRRAL NATIONAL BELOW LCR, £14.20 £13.30 LOWER LOWER STRONG OPPORTUNITY NW, ENGLAND THAN LCR THAN NW FOR PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH AVERAGE PROPORTION OF FTE JOBS IN BIRKENHEAD £54.30 & WIRRAL ARE BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE LOWER THAN ENGLAND (2015) (2015) (2016)

BUSINESS

PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL SECTOR 88% 9.6%

MICRO SMALL 2015 2016 0-9 EMPLOYEES 10-49 EMPLOYEES

LARGEST PROPORTION IN WIRRAL +1025 8425 1.4% 0.2% % % NUMBER OF BUSINESSES 19 20 MEDIUM LARGE IN WIRRAL HAS GROWN SINCE 2015 WIRRAL BIRKENHEAD 50-249 EMPLOYEES 250+ EMPLOYEES (2016)

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POPULATION, EPMLOYMENT & SKILLS

% WIRRAL BIRKENHEAD 6M PEOPLE WITHIN 1HR DRIVE % 69 GIVES ACCESS TO HIGHLY SKILLED % OF 194,000 WORKING AGE TALENT TO RECRUIT FROM, POPULATION ARE EMPLOYED 60.5 INCLUDING 1.2M GRADUATES MALES 48.4 TOTALPOPULATION BIRKENHEAD WIRRAL MET COLLEGE - BIRKENHEAD % 321,000 FE SPECIALIST IN CONSTRUCTION % (2015) AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN LCR HOME TO 4 UNIVERSITIES 62.5 WIRRAL WATERS ENTERPRISE ZONE - 12 WITHIN 1HR DRIVE FEMALES 51.6 (2015)

CONNECTIVITY

WIRRAL BIRKENHEAD 69.7 % 62.4% % PERFORMING BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE 74 2 INTERNATIONAL £300M OUTSTANDING THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AIRPORTS LIVERPOOL2 DEEP WATER NATIONAL RAIL AND EMPLOYMENT GAP WITH BOTH WITHIN A 45 MINUTE DRIVE CONTAINER TERMINAL HAS MOTORWAY LINKS BIRKENHEAD & WIRRAL PERFORMING (2 HOURS FROM LONDON) BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE TRANSFORMED FREIGHT & LOGISTICS FOR LCR

INNOVATION EXCELLENT COMMUTER INFRASTRUCTURE LINKS TO: 2 HOURS 3 MINS BY RAILTO BY RAIL TO 139,775 2 HOURS BY RAILTO LONDON LONDON LIVERPOOL PEOPLE COMMUTE TO 3 MINS BY RAIL TO LIVERPOOL LIVERPOOL BY FERRY PER YEAR

1 OF ONLY 5 PLACES IN UK THAT EXCEEDS EUROPEAN AVERAGE FOR LOGISTICS & FREIGHT EXCELLENCE RAPID ACCESS TO INNOVATION VIA L2 DEEP WATER PORT UK MOTORWAY NETWORK VIA M53

ASSETS HOUSING OUTSTANDING NATIONAL RAIL AND AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES MOTORWAY LINKS (2 HOURS FROM LONDON) £135k - £140k (2013/14) (2014/15)

HOUSEHOLD 1,800+ NUMBERS ( 2013/14) COUNCIL ASSETS HOUSING ZONE STATUS PREDICTED TO GROW SECURED (CURRENTLY 140,000)

8MILLION 5,000 DAY & SHORT BREAK VISITOR S FTE TOURISM JOBS EACH YEAR

£385M % % WIRRAL VISITOR ECONOMY 20 54.2 2/3 FASTEST GROWING IN OF VISITORS ARRIVE OF VISITORS AGED 55 ARE SENIOR AUDIENCE LIVERPOOL CITY REGION FOR FIRST TIME OR ABOVE FINANCIALLY SECURE Strategic RegenerationXX XXX FrameworkXXX XXXXXXXX

STRATEGIC CONTEXT Wirral’s growth sectors of advanced manufacturing, energy, offshore wind and civil The SRF defines the strategic context to drive nuclear have been identified by city region the regeneration of Wirral and it sets out the research as underpinning these key priority key strategies, principles and objectives across areas. the range of inter-related economic, social and physical issues that impact on the borough. In Devolution Deal doing this the SRF reflects relevant national, The devolution deal with Government gives the city region and local strategies in order to Liverpool City Region (LCR) control over a maximise the opportunities to drive forward £900m, 30 year investment fund which will help regeneration within key spatial development unlock the huge economic potential of the City areas. Key strategies include: Region. It also gives the LCR Combined Authority (CA) control over transport budgets The Government’s Industrial Strategy and more responsibility for employment and Green Paper skills provision and strategic regeneration Government has set out its vision to drive opportunities at a local level. As the second forward industrial strategy across the entire largest partner in the city region, Wirral is a key economy, identifying 10 pillars for economic player in these opportunities. As part of the growth: investing in science, research and deal a ‘single pot’ approach to funding has been innovation; developing skills; upgrading established which consolidates various funding infrastructure; supporting businesses to start streams into one allocation. This allows a and grow; improving procurement; streamlined approach to allocating funding encouraging trade and inward investment; across the city region. delivering affordable energy and clean growth; cultivating world leading sectors; driving The Northern Powerhouse growth across the whole country; and creating The Government initiative aims to rebalance the right institutions to bring together sectors the economy by increasing economic growth and places. The strategy will provide a policy in the north of England. Critical to the vision is framework against which major public and the implementation of a sustainable and private sector investment decisions can be connected transport system which links up made, and Wirral’s sector strengths are the cities and towns in the North of England poised to capitalise on this. and the LCR CA is a prominent partner within the Transport for the North grouping which Liverpool City Region Growth Strategy will identify the transformational This document sets out the strategy for infrastructure schemes needed to radically growth for the City Region and identifies key improve connectivity across the North of priority sectors for growth – Low Carbon England. Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Creative, Finance and Professional Services, Atlantic Gateway Health and Life Sciences, Maritime and Wirral has been a key player in developing the Logistics and the Visitor Economy. Focusing Atlantic Gateway strategy which recognises on these growth sectors will maximise the the potential for growth linked to the impact of investment and opportunities over maritime, port and energy sectors and builds the coming years. on the opportunities generated by investment in the Liverpool 2 deepwater port.

9 Strategic Regeneration Framework

The Wirral Plan – A 2020 Vision replaced by a follow-on site-specific Local The Wirral Plan set out the vision for the Plan. In addition, a statutory Spatial borough and identifies 20 key outcomes to be Framework for the LCR is expected to be delivered over the next three years that reflect prepared by the City Region Mayor. the three key priority areas of Business, People and Environment. The Plan provides A LCR Housing Strategy Plan is being the impetus to create economic opportunities developed to identify common objectives for by attracting enterprise and investment and housing growth and investment across the embraces new models of delivery. sub-region.

Wirral Core Strategy Local Plan The Wirral Growth Plan The Core Strategy Local Plan will set the The Wirral Growth Plan sets out the overall statutory framework for future land aspiration for growth for the borough and the use planning decisions in Wirral over the next implementation of the plan will support the 15 years. It sets out the Council’s view of what delivery of the following thematic outcome areas, will be a sustainable pattern of development thereby provinding a clear framework for for Wirral and the strategic policies to which investment and growth. neighbourhood plans must be in general conformity. The Core Strategy Local Plan is • growing competitive businesses expected to be submitted to the Secretary of • increasing employment State for public examination in 2019 and once • workforce skills that match business needs - adopted, will be used to make decisions on • increase inward investment planning applications and inform other • Develop a vibrant visitor economy - planning documents including a site-specific • Provide efficient, well maintained and local plan that will identify the sites needed to accessible transport networks implement the policies in the Core Strategy. • assets and buildings are fit for purpose for Wirral businesses The emerging Core Strategy Local Plan sets out: • the provision of good quality housing • a brief picture of Wirral and its relationship with the surrounding areas; The Growth Plan defines the spatial areas that • the spatial vision and objectives for the area; are seen as priorities for regeneration and key • the proposed broad spatial strategy and investment opportunities and they therefore local priorities for each of the Borough’s provide the starting point as the footprint for main groups of settlements; the SRF. However, there are other areas across • the strategic policies that will be used to the Borough where there are opportunities for ensure the delivery of the strategy and guide regeneration and these are included within the individual development management decisions SRF so that development proposals can be taken forward within the context of the Vision At present, the emerging Core Strategy Local and Principles set out in this document. Plan sits alongside the Unitary Development In addition there are further supporting Plan (UDP) for Wirral (adopted 2000), the Joint strategies to the Wirral Plan which include key Waste Local Plan for Merseyside and Halton principles and actions that relate to economic (adopted July 2013) and ‘made’ Neighbourhood growth. These also provide the context within Plans for Devonshire Park (2015) and Hoylake which the SRF has been developed and include (2016). The strategic policies in the UDP will the strategies relating to housing, tourism, be replaced by those in the Core Strategy culture, digital connectivity, transport and Local Plan and the site-specific elements of sustainability. the UDP (including the Proposals Map) will be

10 Strategic RegenerationXX XXX FrameworkXXX XXXXXXXX

Infrastructure plan Financial Planning Budget / Income

Business Growth: • Inward New business Investment: • Sector growth • Attracting new • Export business • Business space • Markting place • Supply chain growth Employment: • Access • Engagement Tourism: • Upskill • Events • Place marketing • Strong business Housing Growth: • New sites • Enabling Skills: • Marketing • Skills for growth • Skill gaps • Meeting business Transport: needs • Efficient networks • Links to schools • Access • Sustainability

Partnership / Collaboration Core Strategy

Strategic The Wirral Plan - Wirral Regeneration A 2020 Vision Growth Plan Framework

Conclusion: The review of key policies shows that there is a This is principally drawn from the national robust higher level framework in place within strategies, Wirral Plan and Growth Plan, together which the opportunities and needs of Wirral can with their supporting strategies as well as from be considered and which has informed the the LCR Growth Strategy and Devolution Deal. development of this SRF.

11 DElivering growth

The ambition of the SRF is to deliver We have also identified some key principles by 2020: to support regeneration: • 5,000 new jobs • £250m of new inward investment Maximise existing momentum • £450m of tourism revenue • A range of delivery approaches will be • 3,500 new homes considered in order to ensure a step change • 250 new businesses in pace. • 250,000 sq ft of new employment space • For council owned assets and sites this will include direct delivery of schemes by the The spatial priorities for the SRF are: council or through partnership arrangements • Birkenhead Town Centre – including with investors / developers including the Hamilton Square and Woodside formation of a Joint Venture Property • Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Company in order to enable market led • The A41 employment corridor – including development to take place in the future. Wirral International Business Park • The council is in the process of identifying an • New Brighton investor / developer partner to work with us • Local Town Centres in setting up a Wirral Growth Company. A joint venture to support the delivery of a The strategic themes of the SRF for number of key development opportunities driving growth are: across the borough. • High Quality Housing • Employment, Skills and Economic Utilisation of public resources Development • The LCR single investment fund has been • Excellent Connectivity – transport and digital established as part of the devolution deal • The Tourism and Culture offer with government and enables priority schemes • Sustainable development and a high quality across the city region to be driven forward. environment • The Wirral Waters Investment Fund: The • A great place to live and work – healthier fund is one of the innovative approaches lifestyles and safer neighbourhoods that the council has taken to support development in the EZ. The EZ status allows Details of these themes are set out in a the council to prudentially borrow against separate appendix . the projected uplift in business rates to support new developments in the zone.

A council that supports growth In line with the Wirral Plan, the Council will Engage the community provide the strategic lead for Wirral’s • Our communities must be at the heart of sustainable growth and proactively co- regeneration across the borough which will ordinate dialogue and delivery with partners be taken forward through a range of to achieve agreed outcomes. mechanisms including our Constituency committees, our local council publication Wirral View and on-going resident consultation.

12 KEY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Strategic Regeneration Framework has The SRF recognises this and has enabled the identified those spatial areas that provide the prioritisation of key sites to support the key opportunities for development and rationale for public funding from programmes investment following analysis of employment such as the LCR Single Investment Fund, the land availability, business space and feedback Wirral Waters Investment Fund and other from developers and investors. national government programmes.

The locality level is the one at which most Investment is already taking place in these actions will be delivered, within the overall areas and they provide the initial basis from framework of the SRF, but the boundaries of which the Strategic Regeneration Framework these areas are not rigidly fixed. There will be will be driven forward, programmes developed certain developments, activities and functions and schemes delivered. that reflect a clear sense of place and the council will need to be flexible as to linkage Profiles have been prepared for those areas and the margins of each area. The Framework identified as providing significant growth is an enabling, not a constraining document. potential and they provide further detail on the spatial priority areas of: Viability is a significant issue for employment uses in Wirral and the draft Core Strategy • Birkenhead Town Centre notes that given the low rental and rateable • Hamilton Square values of industrial and office uses that public • Woodside Waterfront sector intervention may be needed in the • Wirral Waters short term to kick start development. • The A41 Corridor • Borough-wide investment opportunities

Key Developments • The Wirral Growth Company will drive development at pace • The Wirral Waters Investment Fund is kickstarting projects in our Enterprise Zone (EZ) • A student accommodation offer in Birkenhead to revitalise the area - supporting new retail and leisure uses such as new independent food, retail and music offer • A new vibrant and refocused market to position Birkenhead as a city region destination • A civic cluster to support a modern thriving centre

13 Strategic Regeneration Framework

growth opportunities and key assets

Wirral Peninsula

New Brighton

Irish Sea Liscard

WALLASEY Liverpool

Manor Bakery & Typhoo Complex Seacombe Ferry Terminal

Scotts Quay Moreton Wirral Waters RORO Ferry Terminal Woodside Waterfront Woodside Ferry Terminal HOYLAKE Hamilton Square BIRKENHEADAD Birkenhead Town Centre Hoylake Golf Resort Hind Street Carr Lane Industrial Estate Cammell Laird Champions To Liverpool and Business Park Manchester airports WEST KIRBY A41

New Ferry

Port Sunlight Bebington Unilever River Mersey

Wirral International Business Park Clatterbridge River Dee BROMBOROUGH HESWALL A41

WIRRAL E

CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESHIR

14 BIRKENHEAD TOWN CENTRE

Strategic Regeneration Framework

CONTEXT PLAN

Birkenhead Context Plan

WIRRAL WATERS

T E

RE T S STATION E T EE R DUK ST E A554

ON ET

ST RE G T S A5 IN 03 A V I 0 LI OR T ET

IC RE V T S

ON WOODSIDE

TS STATION

WA CO NW STATION HAMILTON AY BIRKENHEAD PARK ST SQUARE R EET

TOWN CENTRE

AD N RO GHTO CLAU

STATION

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2017. 3

15 Strategic Regeneration Framework

Birkenhead town centre

Ambition

Birkenhead town centre will once again be our crown jewel - a thriving town centre of choice, a destination in its own right as a result of the range and quality of retail and food and leisure offer, and our civic hub. Its position in the sub-region will be cemented as a second-tier centre only behind Liverpool.

Potential Why invest?

Birkenhead Town Centre is the largest town in The Town centre has significant untapped Wirral and a sub-regional destination for retail potential within its catchment population. and leisure in the wider Liverpool City Region. It Birkenhead will be the new civic hub for public has the potential to draw on a wider catchment sector functions to support the growth and including into Cheshire, as well as the wider aspirations for the area, with reconfigured Liverpool City Region. infrastructure to enable growth and improve linkages to other key locations such as The opportunity to maximise and grow the Woodside, Hamilton Square and Wirral Waters. retail, leisure and evening economy in Birkenhead is significant given its catchment Birkenhead is strategically located at the end of potential (both in terms of scale and affluence) the A41 corridor which supports the growth of and the presence of key assets under Council key employment and residential developments ownership strategically located in the centre. for Wirral and feeds directly into Birkenhead.

Birkenhead has all the makings of a vibrant, With Liverpool City Centre less than 5 minutes creative and inspiring destination in the away on the train and the iconic Mersey Ferry Liverpool City Region with a well established on its doorstep, Birkenhead has the makings of market and fantastic transport infrastructure, a thriving and vibrant centre which supports the with the town centre having three train growth of Liverpool City Centre but which has a stations, and a modern bus station. separate and distinct identity providing different, yet complementary functions and uses. The opportunity is to redevelop and redesign these existing assets into a modern highly functioning, thriving centre with a reconfigured investment opportunity civic function, a new, vibrant and refocused market dedicated to fresh produce and local Town centre key outputs: goods, with a retail and leisure offer worthy of • Uses including a civic cluster including Council its prime location in the LCR. and community uses, commercial offices, retail, food and drink, hotel, and residential. This is an area that is ready for change and is a key priority for the council. • A civic cluster of over 28,000sqm, over 32,000sqm commercial floorspace, an 80-bed hotel, over 200 residential units, and 300 car parking spaces.

• Total Gross Development Value across the neighbourhood in excess of in excess of £200m.

16 Strategic Regeneration Framework

big ticket opportunity Transformational infrastruccture delivery Civic Heart We understand that we need to deliver more A new Civic Centre, physically underpinned by a place-changing infrastructure across better food and drink market bringing together Birkenhead and the town centre, specifically to the best of the Wirral and Cheshire ‘home unlock potential in the future, building on grown’ culinary offer, together with a re-imagined previous major investment in a new bus entertainment hub. station, removal of a redundant tunnel flyover, construction of Europa Boulevard and Conway Retail Core Park railway station. Re-imagining the core retail offer underpinned by a new civc heart. Planning policy integration Our adopted development plan supports the Station Gateway - Conway Park regeneration of Birkenhead town centre, and An enhanced station gateway – a recognised our emerging Core Strategy Local Plan entry point to the town centre, bringing in promotes it as a sub-regional retail centre, visitors from the City Region and beyond. including supporting development for all key town centre uses (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, D1, and D2) with residential supported at upper What’s happening now floor levels and backland sites.

Clustering our civic functions KEY PROJECTSTo underpin and support the regeneration of Birkenhead and the town centre, the council will commit to relocating the core of our civic functions to the centre, to be housed in a new KEY PROJECTS purpose-built facility.

FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT ALLEY One publicResidential-led estate Development Key development zone, to be Further to the clustering of our own civic Community Hub re-imagined as a visitor and evening functions within the town centre, we will work economy focused space, a ‘Food Alley’ with our ‘Entertainmentwider public sector Alley’ partners to further FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT ALLEY and an entertainmentResidential-led hub. Development Key development zone, to be support theCommercial delivery of a true concentration of Community Hub public sector services within the town centre. re-imagined as a visitor and evening Civic Heart economy focused space, a ‘Food Alley’ ‘Entertainment Alley’ and an entertainment hub. StrategicRetail aquisitions Core Commercial We have Stationidentified, Gateway as part of the preparation Civic Heart of this document, a number of sites which we believe will be key for the delivery of the Retail Core ambitions that we hold for the town centre. We Station Gateway are progressingSTATION discussions GATEWAY with third-party landownersAn enhanced in each case station to identify gateway – a recognised entry opportunitiespoint to for the strategic town centre, acquisitions to ensure thatbringing we have in visitors control from of thethese sites. We STATION GATEWAY will continueCity Region to work and to beyond.identify and secure An enhanced station sites as required, alongside any future private gateway – a recognised entry point to the town centre, sector delivery partner(s). bringing in visitors from the City Region and beyond.

OUR APPROACH 17

STATION GATEWAY OURHousing APPROACH led regeneration • Established relationship between key landowners. proposal to support and increase the residential population around • Strategic land acquisition to protect long term opportunity. Birkenhead and create a new STATION GATEWAY urban gateway to the town. • One Public Estate exercise underway to determine requirements for Housing led regeneration • Established relationship between key landowners. proposal to support and increase floorspace and inform wider Asset Strategy. the residential population around • Strategic land acquisition to protect long term opportunity. Birkenhead and create a new • Birkenhead Business Improvement District in place – successful investment urban gateway to the town. • One Public Estate exercise underway to anddetermine enhancement requirements to public for realm and future intervention strategy. floorspace and inform wider Asset Strategy.

CIVIC HEART • Birkenhead Business Improvement District in place – successful investment A new Civic Centre, physically underpinned by a Street Food and and enhancement to public realm and future intervention strategy. Drink market bringing together the best of the Wirral and Cheshire and East ‘home grown’ culinary offer. CIVIC HEART A new Civic Centre, physically underpinned by a Street Food and © Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Licence number 100019803 2017. Drink market bringing together the best of the Wirral and Cheshire and East ‘home grown’ culinary offer.

Key projects plan

STATION GATEWAY Residential-led Development An enhanced station gateway – a recognised entry point to the Community Hub town centre, bringing in visitors Civic Heart from the City Region and beyond. Commercial Retail Core Station Gateway

RETAIL CORE Re-imagining the core retail oﬀer underpinned by a new civic heart.

STATION GATEWAY Housing led regeneration proposal to support and increase the residential population around Birkenhead and create a new urban gateway to the town.

CIVIC HEART A new Civic Centre, physically underpinned by a better food and drink market bringing together the best of the Wirral and Cheshire

18 Strategic Regeneration Framework

hamilton square

Ambition

Hamilton Square will be a unique sustainable residential neighbourhood for a new urban community within Birkenhead, attracted to the area by the economic, educational, retail and recreational opportunities within the town centre, Woodside, Wirral Waters, and Liverpool and the wider sub-region over the Mersey. Its identity will be steeped in its heritage, including its scale and the quality of development that will be brought forward.

Potential Why invest?

Hamilton Square has the largest collection of The Hamilton Square neighbourhood is home Grade I listed buildings in a square outside of to many key public sector assets which provide London and is a truly iconic setting in the opportunities for investment to stimulate the middle of Birkenhead. revival of the area as a vibrant residential community at the heart of Birkenhead. Strategically located between Woodside and Birkenhead Town Centre, it is the key linkage Hamilton Square is a tourist and visitor between the waterfront at Woodside Ferry, destination which is serviced by an Hamilton Square train station and the town underground rail link to Liverpool City Centre in centre. Hamilton Square is a distinct under 3 minutes, the A41 corridor and the destination in its own right, with a spectacular Mersey Ferry at Woodside. setting of Georgian buildings and beautiful public space which forms key walking routes There is significant opportunity to regenerate across Birkenhead. Hamilton Square into a truly remarkable residential area and to create a vibrant The listed buildings within Hamilton Square are neighbourhood to support the growth and a key asset for Birkenhead and require aspirations for Birkenhead, Woodside, Wirral significant investment to realise their full Waters and Liverpool City centre. potential, including investment in their surroundings to reflect their quality. investment opportunity Birkenhead Town Hall overlooks the square and provides a major opportunity for re-use as a Hamilton Square neighbourhood key outputs: boutique hotel and conference facility which would sit alongside a mix of commercial and the • Residential, student accommodation, food re-emergence of a residential focus in the square. and drink and boutique hotel. There is a growing requirement for student and residential accommodation in and around • Over 100 residential units and 160 student Birkenhead and the wider Hamilton Square area bed spaces, 3,600sqm of retail, food and drink includes some key Council-owned sites which are floorspace, and a circa 30-bed boutique hotel. located in close proximity to the town centre and Wirral Waters education campus. • Total Gross Development Value across the neighbourhood in excess of £60m.

19 Strategic Regeneration Framework

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW future for the designated area. Delivery of additional housing in Wirral is also a corporate Use of our assets priority. We will work with future investment We recognise that we have ownership of land partners to deliver development within this and buildings within the Hamilton Square quarter of the town. neighbourhood which could hold greater commercial potential in the future including the Stakeholder engagement and lobbying Town Hall. The potential is even greater when the Working with Central Government alongside wider public sector is considered – including for local partners such as the Local Enterprise example the Magistrates Court and Police Station. Partnership , Birkenhead Business We are committed to reviewing and where Improvement District and Wirral Chamber of appropriate, rationalising our assets in this area. Commerce, we will place Birkenhead’s regeneration at the forefront of stakeholders Strategic aqutisitions thinking including testing delivery strategy We have identified a number of sites which we fundamentals and areas of innovation and best believe we will key for the delivery of the practice, and alignment of strategy and ambitions that we hold for Hamilton Square. priorities with funding opportunities. We are progressing discussions with third KEY PROJECTSparty landowners. big ticket opportunity Transformational infrastructure delivery Station Gateway - Hamilton Square We understand that we need to deliver An enhanced station gateway – a quality placechanging infrastructure across arrival point serving both Hamilton Square and Residential-led Development Birkenhead to unlock potential in the future. Woodside. For HamiltonCommunity Square Hub this could include STUDENTKEY PROJECTSQUARTER KEY PROJECTS considerationStudent of Quartera new parking strategy Student Quarter A new quarter to be established, to and vehicular flows around the square. A new quarter to be established, to evolve the evolve the residential lifeblood of Station Gateway Hamilton Square and harness the residential lifeblood of Hamilton Square and potential associated with education Planning policy integration harness the potential associated with investment across Wirral and the Our emerging development plan supports a education investment across the LCR. wider City Region. Residential-led Developmentfocus of regeneration to preserve and enhance Residential-led Development Community Hub the character and appearance of the Birkenhead Town Hall Community Hub Conservation Area at Hamilton Square, to Re-imagined as a hotel and destination space, STUDENT QUARTER STATION GATEWAY STUDENT QUARTER Student Quarter Student Quarter A new quarter to be established, to An enhancedsecure station a long-term gateway – mixeda use commercial bringing this true asset back to life. A new quarter to be established, to evolve the residential lifeblood of Stationquality Gateway arrival point serving both evolve the residential lifeblood of Station Gateway Hamilton Square and harness the Hamilton Square and Woodside. Hamilton Square and harness the potential associated with education potential associated with education investment across Wirral and the investment across Wirral and the wider City Region. wider City Region.

STATION GATEWAY STATION GATEWAY An enhanced station gateway – a An enhanced station gateway – a quality arrival point serving both Hamilton Square and Woodside. quality arrival point serving both Hamilton Square and Woodside. KEY OUTPUTS OUR APPROACH

FOCUS: Residential, commercial • Securing Green Flag status. and managed / purpose built student accommodation. • Investigation of potential 20 improvements to Hamilton KEY OUTPUTS OUR APPROACH INVESTMENT: Estimated GDV in Square Station and environs. KEY OUTPUTS OUR APPROACH excess of £60m. • Investigation of Birkenhead Town FOCUS: Residential, commercial • Securing Green FlagHall status. hotel and visitor feasibility. and managed / purposeDEVELOPMENT built POTENTIAL: Over • Securing Green Flag status. 100 residential units and• 160Investigation student of potential• Working alongside Chamber FOCUS: Residential, commercialBIRKENHEAD TOWN HALL student accommodation. and managed / purposeOur builtcrown jewel, re-imagined as a bed spaces, 3,600sqm of improvementsretail, food to Hamiltonof Commerce to establish hotel and destination space,• bringingInvestigation of potential and drink floorspace, andSquare a circa Station and environs.event space and community student accommodation.this true asset back to life. INVESTMENT: Estimated GDV in improvementsexcess to Hamilton of £60m. 30-bed boutique hotel. engagement exercise. Square Station and environs. • Investigation of Birkenhead Town INVESTMENT: Estimated GDV in Hall hotel and visitor feasibility. DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: Over excess of £60m. • Investigation of Birkenhead Town 100 residential units and 160 student • Working alongside Chamber BIRKENHEAD TOWN HALL Hall hotel and visitor feasibility. bed spaces, 3,600sqm of retail, food of Commerce to establish © Crown Copyright.DEVELOPMENTOur All Rights crown Reserved. Licencejewel, number re-imagined 100019803 POTENTIAL: 2017. as a Over 100hotel residential and destination units space, and bringing 160 student • Working alongsideand drinkChamber floorspace, and a circa event space and community BIRKENHEAD TOWN HALL this true asset back to life. 30-bed boutique hotel. engagement exercise. Our crown jewel, re-imagined as a bed spaces, 3,600sqm of retail, food of Commerce to establish hotel and destination space, bringing and drink floorspace, and a circa event space and community this true asset back to life. 30-bed boutique hotel. engagement exercise.

KEY PROJECTS PLAN

Key projects plan

Residential-led Development Community Hub Student Quarter Station Gateway

STATION GATEWAY An enhanced station gateway – a quality arrival point serving both Hamilton Square and Woodside.

STUDENT QUARTER A new quarter to be established, to evolve the residential lifeblood of Hamilton Square and harness the potential associated with education investment across Wirral and the wider City Region.

BIRKENHEAD TOWN HALL Our crown jewel, re-imagined as a hotel and destination space, bringing this true asset back to life.

21 Strategic Regeneration Framework

woodside waterfront

Ambition

At Woodside, Wirral will have a waterfront commercial quarter of scale, nature and built quality that reflects its positioning on the left bank of the Mersey, but which also respects and enhances the heritage assets within Birkenhead. This will be an iconic and exciting commercial hub within Wirral, a home to hotel and conference facilities, commercial office activity, and new residents overlooking one of the world’s most recognisable and spectacular views – that of the UNESCO World Heritage Liverpool Waterfront.

Potential investment opportunity

Woodside is the jewel in the crown for Woodside presents a once in a lifetime opportunity and ambition for Wirral and the opportunity to achieve a landmark private LCR. Woodside Ferry terminal plays a key role sector-led development which should not only in securing the linkages to Liverpool city centre drive the regeneration of this important part of with the potential to enhance its role. Birkenhead but also achieve a quality of design and visual impact worthy of its location. The council supports the principle of a key Woodside could comprise of a series of commercial core at Woodside with key links to buildings and public spaces which: Hamilton Square and Birkenhead needing to be embedded in the plans to create a corridor of • Provide a range of business, residential, opportunity to Birkenhead Town Centre. The leisure, cultural and tourism uses. pieces are in place to create a truly unique, sustainable and cultural asset to the City • Complement the regeneration and Region and beyond. conservation of the adjoining historic areas of Birkenhead and the prestigious waterfront.

Why invest? • Re-connects the waterfront with the centre of Birkenhead, including Hamilton Square The area is perfectly located to act as the next phase of opportunity associated with the • Represents an attraction in its own right and critical mass of activity within the Liverpool creates a high quality and accessible Central Business District, with the best views of environment for visitors, day and night and Liverpool for a hotel and conference facility. throughout the year.

Woodside holds the potential to deliver an Woodside key outputs: innovative and modern development within an • Uses including commercial office, retail, food area of huge opportunity, enviable connectivity, and drink, hotel and conference, and residential. and with the presence of significantly under- utilised public sector assets. It will form the • Over 65,000sqm commercial floorspace, a gateway to Birkenhead from Liverpool, with the 200-bed hotel, over 580 residential units, and resulting opportunity undeniable. 450 car parking spaces.

• Total Gross Development Value across the area in excess of £300m.

22 Strategic Regeneration Framework

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW The Council has commissioned a scoping exercise to look at the future requirements to Strategic aquisitions ensure that Birkenhead, the A41 corridor, We have identified a number of sites which we Woodside and Wirral Waters are linked and believe we will be key for the delivery of the connected in the most sustainable and ambitions that we hold for Woodside, including effective way to ensure that people and places public sector assets. We are progressing are intrinsically linked. Birkenhead has many discussions with third-party landowners in natural assets including the waterfront, each case to bring partners together to secure docklands and Birkenhead Park which are the redevelopment of Woodside through a fundamental to the story of Birkenhead and collaborative partnership approach. create the unique opportunity that the town has to offer. Transformational infrastructure delivery Planning policy integration We understand that we need to deliver Urban Regeneration is a consistent theme in placechanging infrastructure across our existing and emerging development plans Birkenhead and Woodside specifically to unlock and the mixed-use redevelopment of Woodside potential in the future. We are producing a to enhance the economic role and commercial Transport and Major Infrastructure and offer of Birkenhead Town Centre would support Delivery Strategy to support identified growth these objectives as well as contributing to the potential. We are committed, alongside public delivery of additional housing in Wirral which and private sector partners, to delivering this is a corporate priority. We will work with infrastructure to support our regeneration delivery partners to develop a comprehensive priorities. For Woodside this could include masterplan for Woodside, which will be agreed re-alignment of the A41 at the Woodside by the Council in advance of any planning gyratory and redesign of the road and applications, to give greater certainty to infrastructure layout. delivery and de-risk the process as much as possible.

Waterfront Vision • Creative and digital industries – supporting local entrepreneurs – start-up space and support at The Sheds • Event space and meanwhile uses supporting an independent creative sector • Reconnecting the waterfront to Birkenhead – a strong food offer • New waterfront living will form the gateway to Birkenhead from Liverpool • Innovative space is being discovered and enabled for use by creative businesses • Major and iconic development to complement Liverpool’s world class waterfront

23 PLACESHAPING PROFILE Strategic Regeneration Framework

KEY PROJECTS PLAN

Key projects plan

Residential-led Development MUSEUM AND EXHIBITION CENTRE Commercial A new museum and exhibition Station Gateway space (Sky Pier) to support a visitor attraction and cultural programme on the waterfront.

WATERFRONT EVENT SPACE Woodside as a stage for arts and culture in the Liverpool City Region – the best seats in the house for any city region, and the host of regional ‘River Events’.

STATION GATEWAY An enhanced station gateway – a quality arrival point serving both Hamilton Square and Woodside.

HOTEL AND RESIDENTIAL TOWER(S) Phase 1 of the Woodside ambition – a hotel offer which acts as a destination in its own right, waterfront living opportunities, and a quality of development that is commensurate to this waterfront city area – setting the standard for future phases.

24 Strategic Regeneration Framework

What’s planned? big ticket opportunity

Wirral Growth Company Museum and exhibition centre We will identify the best route to deliver our A new museum and exhibition space (Sky Pier) ambitions for Woodside through true public- to support a visitor attraction and cultural private partnership. To this end we are programme on the waterfront. revisiting the Woodside Masterplan to update our ambitious plans for this area. Waterfront event space Woodside as a stage for arts and culture in the We will be engaging with third-party Liverpool City Region – the best seats in the landowners across the Woodside area as part house for any city region, and the host of of this exercise, as well as looking to promote regional ‘River Events’. the investment opportunity to the wider development and investment market to identify Hotel and residential tower(s) the best partner(s) to deliver our ambitions. Phase 1 of the Woodside ambition – a hotel offer which acts as a destination in its own right, waterfront living opportunities, and a quality of development.

25 Strategic Regeneration Framework

Wirral Waters

Ambition

Wirral Waters is the largest regeneration project in the UK and has Enterprise Zone status. It is also set to become the most sustainable. It will be a new place to live, work and play and a place for all. It is centred on the Wirral Dock system on the banks of the River Mersey, overlooking Liverpool’s world-class, city waterfront. At its heart the project seeks to use the unique water assets of the city to drive growth across all sectors; for trade, for jobs, for energy, for transport, for play and for ‘placemaking’.

Context Plan

26 Strategic Regeneration Framework

Potential This opportunity is recognised in the wider economic growth strategies of the Atlantic The scheme is jobs driven. The economy Gateway, the Liverpool City Region LEP, and comes first for Wirral Waters as it seeks to the Combined Authority. It is a priority project create well over 20,000 permanent new jobs for the Northern Power House. for the Liverpool City Region. The scheme seeks to create the workforce to deliver the Building on Peel’s track record of sustained project therefore being a catalyst for investment and delivery in the region over the appropriate training and skills giving the young last decade, including Liverpool John Lennon people of Wirral a brighter future. Airport and the ongoing £350m investment into port infrastructure - Liverpool2 , the Wirral Waters will transform the derelict docks Wirral Waters project seeks to catalyse the in Birkenhead into a world class waterfront that vision to re-harness the water assets of the is alive with activity on land and in the water. area – its Port, the River Mersey, the Although inspired from other places, Wirral Manchester Ship Canal, the Irish Sea and the Waters will certainly be ‘of Wirral’ a unique wider Atlantic and for these to once again be place known for its big skies, lush countryside, the drivers of jobs and growth whether striking coastline as well as its pioneering spirit through increased trade, logistics & and distinctive culture. connectivity, energy, advanced manufacturing or through the visitor / creative economy for this genuinely distinct part of the UK. Why invest? Fundamentally, this is what underpins the Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone- a re- The Wirral Waters project is supported by harnessing of the River Mersey to deliver jobs Central Government. It was designated and growth. Enterprise Zone status in 2011 – one of the 1st four Enterprise Zones in the UK and known as In addition, Wirral Council has established the the Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone. Wirral Wirral Waters Investment Fund based on the Waters has also been awarded Housing Zone re-investment of the uplift in business rates. status by the Government in 2017 which The Fund will enable loans or grants to be recognises the opportunity for housing offered to developers who present clear ideas/ growth within the Zone which has outline projects for the successful development of planning approval for some 13,500 units over land in the Enterprise Zone, with the effect the next 15 years. that such development will ultimately lead to the generation of business rates for the WWIF Wirral Waters seeks to match the undoubted once end users take occupation in the opportunity of the site, its water, its open Enterprise Zone. space, its mercantile infrastructure with the assets of the area and the undoubted quality Key outputs: of life, rich culture, its skills, coastline and • Transform 500 acres of docklands into an countryside. internationally recognisable waterfront destination. Wirral Waters is however immediately located • An Enterprise Zone where over 20,000 new within an area of economic need, thereby jobs and 13,000 new homes will be creasted. making the scheme essential to help drive economic growth in East Wirral as well as the Liverpool City Region.

27 Strategic Regeneration Framework

investment opportunitIES Maritime Knowledge Hub The Maritime Knowledge Hub is to be Egerton Square developed at the Hydraulic Tower. Focused on A new amenity village on the banks of the East the maritime sector, it will provide up to 50,000 Float docks that provides local amenity for sq ft of new office, incubation, teaching, R&D existing and new residents, students and and cultural space. It will also provide a tank workers that are starting to populate Four for an Offshore Survival Training Centre. Bridges and Northbank East. The scheme can also provide a much needed hub for the The Maritime Knowledge Hub will be focused artistic and creative industries of Wirral. on the Grade 2 listed Hydraulic Tower building, Following an architectural competition, which is a copy of the Palazzo Vecchio in architects OMI are working up the project that Florence. Bombed in the war and now largely will include some amenity retail, a new square derelict, the Hydraulic Tower is an important with an events programme, managed part of the history and heritage of the Dock workspace and studios and a restaurant. Estate. The Maritime Knowledge Hub will once again become a beacon for the area, Laird House, Tower Road South positioned at the very heart of Wirral Waters. Named after one of Birkenhead’s famous Its refurbishment will be a barometer of forefathers, Laird House at Tower Road South progress for Birkenhead creating a centre for will provide new flexible and sustainable office Marine entrepreneurship, enterprise, skills space with views across the Docks and to and culture to support the wider Marine & Liverpool. This will be available as a single Maritime sectors. building or in suites. Designed by award winning architects, Glenn Howells Architects, Project partners: Liverpool John Moores the office will be circa 25,000 sq ft over 4 University, Mersey Maritime, the stories. Manufacturing Technology Centre, Wirral Council and Peel Holdings.

28 Strategic Regeneration Framework

MEA Park Sector – offshore wind and civil nuclear – as MEA Park (Marine, Energy and Automotive well as automotive in supporting Jaguar Land Park) is a proposed new, multi-unit, 1 million sq Rover in Halewood, GM Vauxhall and Bentley. ft waterside manufacturing, logistics, R&D and assembly campus. This is targeted to support The 60 acre MEA Park is now remediated and the Marine, Maritime and Energy sectors. serviced. This site also benefits from Enhanced Capital Allowances within the Enterprise Zone. Phase 1 of MEA Park is intended to be the conversion of the existing 42,000 sq ft existing Northbank East Phase 2 Mobil building where we are targeting a Northbank will be a residential neighbourhood Government R&D Catapult centre. The focus with waterside living, designed to attract new of the project will be a research centre for residents and strengthen the emerging Modular Construction and Digital Design. residential community in the adjacent converted Grain Warehouses. It is envisaged that Phase 2 will be a multi-unit B1/B2/B8 project of circa 50,000 sq ft for The development will provide a product that’s engineering supply chains in the energy, unique to the Liverpool City Region: maritime and automotive sectors. aspirational, high quality design, construction and management, with a south-facing MEA Park will seek to build on key strengths waterside location and views across the River and growth sectors, in particular the Energy Mersey to the world-class Liverpool city skyline.

Wirral Waters Catalyst Project - The Maritime Knowledge Hub

29 Strategic Regeneration Framework

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW WHAT’S PLANNED

Wirral Met College Between now and 2020, it is intended that The Wirral Met College Construction campus delivery activity will be focused at the Four is the first building to have been delivered in Bridges / Northbank East neighbourhoods Wirral Waters. This starts the educational / and at MEA (Marine, Energy & Automotive) training ‘campus’ at Four Bridges. The new Park. These ‘cluster’ areas are to be Wirral Met College is circa 38,000 sq ft with developed in parallel and will create new construction courses aligned to Wirral Waters sustainable employment and residential, and focused on the Built Environment. The office, amenity and educational space within design of the building has secured a RIBA the Wirral dockland. Regional Award, a RIBA National Award, a Civic Trust National Award and a Wirral Society Site preparation and infrastructure come first. Award for Excellence. These initiatives create the platforms for delivery followed by the landscaping, the spaces between buildings being vital in ‘placemaking’. Egerton Square The ‘connecting threads’ are then the green A new amenity village on the banks of the East infrastructure, and a commitment to cycling Float docks. and improved public transport.

30 Strategic Regeneration Framework

THE A41 corridor

Ambition

The A41 corridor will continue to accommodate employment growth in the key locations from Eastham through Bromborough up to Birkenhead Town Centre and the Waterfront. It offers immense potential to contribute to the growth of the Borough and unlocking development opportunities and barriers to growth is a key priority for the Council through its growth ambitions.

Potential why invest? The A41 corridor provides exciting The A41 is a Key Route Network for Wirral and development opportunities to grow and has also been identified as part of the Major expand the employment and housing Route Network for the wider region. It opportunities along this key corridor to intrinsically links the east of the borough and Birkenhead. The A41 corridor has a proven the key centres as well as some of the main track record of delivery of light industrial units employment locations in the borough including and has successfully created a major Unilever, Wirral International Business Park, employment destination which supports and Cammell Laird ship yard and Birkenhead. sustains growing companies and adjacent residential areas. Work has previously taken place to deliver improvements through a programme of environmental enhancements to the corridor and recently the Council has enabled developers to bring forward two supplier parks to serve the growing energy sector supply chain.

The potential to increase employment and grow existing and new locations along the strategic highway route is significant and the Council will support sustainable growth and investment in this area.

There is the opportunity to improve access to Birkenhead Town Centre from the A41 through the provision of a new Mollington Road link which could enable the future removal of the Town Link flyover as part of a wider regeneration aspiration to open up under-used and vacant sites south of the town centre. Unlocking sites off the A41 through new road links to bring sites to fruition will be critical.

31 Strategic Regeneration Framework

investment opportunitIES WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW

Hind Street Work has taken place to deliver improvements Hind Street is a large under-utilised area to the through a programme of environmental immediate south of Birkenhead enhancements to the A41 corridor, including Town Centre and to the west of the A41, well significant cycling infrastructure along the served by public transport including whole length of the corridor. Several junctions direct rail links to Liverpool and Chester. The have been identified for road capacity Council is working closely with partners to improvements and green corridors. Two new bring forward a key development location at business parks have been established along Hind Street which will create a new gateway the A41 which are looking to enable into Birkenhead Town centre and provide a businesses to serve the growing energy sector comprehensive mixed use scheme. A supply chain. successful office development at Queens Gate, to the immediate north of the area, Unilever Port Sunlight Factory and highlights the potential for high quality Research Laboratories development and investment in this location. The Unilever factory and adjacent Research Laboratory at Port Sunlight is Wirral International Business Park still one of the largest private sector A Strategic Regional Site in Bromborough, to employers in the Borough. Due for the east of the A41, extending between the completion in 2017 a new Advanced watercourse at Bromborough Pool and Manufacturing Centre facility is to house a Eastham Country Park, is one of the Borough’s state-of-the-art pilot plant enabling scientists most successful business locations. There are and engineers to test new ideas during a few remaining sites with the Business park personal care and home care product which are yet to be developed out and the development on a factory scale. Council will be looking to secure suitable uses to complete the business park. Adjacent to the Housing Business Park is the Croft Retail and Leisure The former Golf Driving Range at Bromborough Park which is one of the Borough’s main retail – planning permission has been granted to and leisure destinations. Bellway Homes for 98 homes on a 4.5 Hectare site and the first batch of 22 units are Eastham QEII Dock currently under construction. Eastham QEII Dock is adjacent to the entrance to the Manchester Ship Canal - a regionally Persimmon Homes have planning consent for important facility with links to Stanlow, 169 dwellings on the former Croda site on Pool Runcorn and Manchester, operated as part of Lane as part of a mixed use development. the Peel Ports portfolio, with a large area of brown field land which is currently not developed. This is part of the Atlantic gateway prospectus across the City Region and is supported as a key investment location. The Mersey Ports Master Plan proposes the phased re-location of out-dated port facilities to Eastham from Ellesmere Port Docks, the provision of new lock gates to the canal from the QE2 Dock to deliver modern port and port-centric facilities, as part of a scheme known as Port Wirral.

32 Strategic Regeneration Framework

Cammell Laird Cammell Laird and the Nuclear Advanced The site now provides a major marine Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) have engineering and ship building and repair recently announced a new partnership which facility. The open land to the south of the ship will see the opening of a Nuclear AMRC facility repair facility is currently in use for the within the site. This will provide a base for the assembly and construction of off-shore wind sector in the north west and be used to turbines and other associated equipment and develop and industrialise technology and has the potential to become a major supply knowhow to service the nuclear industry. and construction centre for the offshore renewable energy industry.

33 Strategic Regeneration Framework

what’s planned • New link road (Mollington Link) into the redevelopment of land at Hind Street to open up the site as part of the development. Transport infrastructure • Improvements to the A41 / Green Lane The A41 carries significant volumes of traffic Roundabout (Campbeltown Road) to and capacity issues are forecast by 2024. A increase capacity. number of transport schemes are planned • Improved bus, cycle and pedestrian routes which will improve capacity at several and connectivity along the A4 junctions, reducing delays and allowing the traffic to flow more freely through the junctions, reducing journey times and improving flow and journey time reliability of the A41 Corridor to support growth and opportunities in Wirral.

34 Strategic Regeneration Framework

Borough-WIDE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

NEW BRIGHTON The Floral Pavilion Theatre and Conference New Brighton is located on the north eastern Centre is a key asset within the £70 million New tip of the Wirral Peninsula and is surrounded by Brighton regeneration programme that miles of spectacular coastline with stunning includes a hotel; an 8 screen digital cinema; views of Liverpool’s waterfront. New Brighton is superstore; children’s play centre, restaurants a year-round premier seaside destination, & bars, and was rebuilt at a cost of over £11 attracting increased day trippers and overnight million. Over 500 new jobs have already been stays. We want to extend the appeal of the created as part of the regeneration of the town, resort to new markets, and regenerate areas however Wirral’s key coastal resort still has with potential for growth to bring further new room for economic growth and increased businesses and jobs. visitors.

Potential for New Brighton The Economic Plan for New Brighton (Jan In recent years, New Brighton’s seafront area 2016) outlines that the visitor economy is has undergone significant regeneration which worth £25.5m to the resort compared to just has led to a dramatic resurgence in its fortunes, £15.8m in 2009 (excludes expenditure made restoring New Brighton’s reputation as an by Wirral residents) and has helped Wirral outstanding visitor destination. New Brighton is become the fastest growing visitor economy in recognised as an attractive visitor destination the city region. with huge potential that could be further maximised through developing additional Investment Opportunity unique attractions to entice more visitors to The Economic Plan sets out how we can build on explore and enjoy New Brighton’s natural the success of New Brighton to appeal to new seaside charm. markets and regenerate areas with potential for growth to bring further new businesses and jobs into the area. This includes the opportunity to invest in the development of a range of sites.

35 Strategic Regeneration Framework

NEW FERRY HOYLAKE GOLF RESORT In March 2017 an explosion took place in the Building on the success of hosting several Open centre of New Ferry causing untold damage to championships, Wirral Council plan to establish business premises and residential areas Hoylake as the capital of England’s Golf Coast by located close to the site of the blast. High level developing a new world class golf resort. We discussions with Secretary of State for have entered into a Joint Venture agreement Communities and Local Government have with the Jack Nicklaus Group as preferred taken place to secure investment for the area. development partner.

To ensure its survival it is clear that the district Plans for the golf resort include an 18-hole centre will need to contract, creating a smaller championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus more accessible retail centre, using underused and the re-provision of a high quality municipal 18 land and buildings for businesses to move into hole course, a proposed top class hotel, including as part of a mixed use scheme. Investment health and spa facilities and a clubhouse, and a interest could be further stimulated through ‘Links Academy’ where visitors can learn about the inclusion of some residential components the unique demands of playing links golf before within any proposed development. embarking on a tour of the North West’s three championship links courses. Housing units are also included as part of the mix of the development as well as the provision of a new road to provide increased linkage to the site.

36 Strategic Regeneration Framework

LOCAL TOWN CENTRES This will be the first step in developing more In addition to the spatial areas identified here detailed Place Profiles to be included within the there are other key development sites within our Strategic Regeneration Framework which will town and district centres across the Borough and be shaped by consultation and engagement more detailed place shaping work is ongoing in with communities and wider stakeholders. order to set out the ambitions for each area. The aim of the consultation and the delivery of Wirral’s town and district centres are key assets the Place Profiles will be to set out a clear for our local communities as well as supporting ambition for each of the areas that reflects the Borough’s economy and providing valuable local needs and contributes to the local jobs. achievements of the aims of the Wirral Growth A successful centre is important to the Plan and Wirral Vision. For example Liscard will surrounding neighbourhood and any be the focus of a pilot to revitalise the town development should support them to retain centre and the Place Profile will develop their vibrancy and vitality and reinforce the alongside the pilot. sense of community and ownership.

Currently six areas across the borough have been identified on the basis that they contain a high concentration of public assets - Bebington, West Kirby, Wallasey (Liscard), Bromborough, Moreton and Heswall and we are in the process of developing profiles for these areas to provide an overview of the sites and their current uses.

Local Town Centres • Innovative business support service will help high streets with new project activity • The Birkenhead BID is supporting the use of our town centre spaces for creative community and visitor uses • Promoting our local offer – farmers markets, food and drink festivals • Use of Parks and open spaces to support our creative people through music and drama festivals, art events

37 To find out more:

search: Wirral 2020

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