Wirral set for 1000 new homes in UK’s ‘biggest and most exciting regeneration project’

Merseyside’s Wirral Waters project has reached a major milestone this week, with three housing projects delivering over 1,000 new homes confirmed for the development.

Developer Peel Land and Property is making the announcement today (March 14) at the MIPIM conference in Cannes, France.

The three schemes will include a £55m joint venture between Peel and developer Urban Splash, a first for the two companies, for 347 modular homes on part of the 500-acre dockland site in Birkenhead.

Peel is also partnering with retirement home business Belong Villages for a dementia care village that will comprise 34 one- and two-bedroom apartments, to rent or buy, and six households providing 24-hour support for up to 12 residents each.

Other amenities in the village will include a bistro, gym and hair salon.

The third development is Wirral Waters One, a £90m 500-apartment scheme that has been rubber-stamped by the Cabinet of Wirral Council, enabling building work to begin.

According to Peel, Wirral Waters is currently the biggest regeneration project in the UK.

The development was greenlit in the largest planning permission ever granted in Great Britain in 2012. Peel has since undertaken preparation work to pave the way for regeneration, which included demolishing more than 20 acres of derelict buildings and installing new energy and drainage infrastructure.

Peel has also taken steps to improve the local environment with more than 1,500 newly-planted trees.

Wirral Waters will deliver up to 215,000,000 sq ft of floor space, including 43,000,000 sq ft of offices, 10,000,000 sq ft of industrial space and up to 13,000 residential units.

Richard Mawdsley, director of development at Peel Land and Property, said: “Wirral Waters is the biggest and most exciting regeneration project currently on British soil and we are immensely proud to be announcing these three major housing schemes today at MIPIM.

“Brownfield regeneration projects, like Wirral Waters, are crucial in tackling the current UK housing crisis as they take the pressure off our greenbelts.”

He continued: “Birkenhead will now begin to see the culmination of the past five years’ preparations as we kick start our first three major housing schemes. But this is just the beginning. Over the next three years, £200m of investment is expected to take place on Wirral Waters and we’re looking forward to making further announcements soon.”

Nick Walkley, chief exec of the Government’s Homes England agency, commented: “It is great to see how our partners are using Government funding to significantly increase build rates on key schemes.

“The Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping unlock strategic sites across the country for development and Wirral Waters is an excellent example of this. Peel are providing a mix of house types to ensure that the development will meet the needs of local people.”

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “[We] want this City Region to be an exemplar for innovation, sustainability and design excellence.

“As the region’s biggest regeneration project, Wirral Waters will play a major part and we are delighted to see progress on these important housing schemes.”