Strategic Regeneration Framework
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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