Member Article

Homes England awards £6m to Peel L&P for new waterside residential quarter

Building work has begun on three major residential sites at Wirral Waters, which are set to breathe new life into 500 acres of former dockland and transform it into an internationally recognisable destination.

Regeneration business, Peel L&P, has received £6m funding from Homes England to assist with the necessary site remediation work across all three residential projects, including Wirral Waters One, House by Urban Splash and Belong Village.

The grant, which is one of the biggest ever HIF (Housing Infrastructure Fund) grants to be awarded outside London, will go towards essential remediation, infrastructure and public realm work, including cycling and pedestrian routes, to support the new homes.

The improvements will include a wider programme of streetscape work, such as the creation of dockside walkways and new public squares; improvements to connectivity between local bus and ferry services, cycles ways and pedestrian routes; and improvements to local amenities and car parking.

The three residential projects will include Wirral Waters One, a £90m development of one and two-bedroom apartments and affordable homes; a £55m House by Urban Splash development of modern, modular homes; and Belong Village, a specialist dementia care village.

Richard Mawdsley, director of development for Wirral Waters at Peel L&P, said: “This is an important moment as work finally begins on these three impressive housing projects, and the first of many residential schemes to be built at Wirral Waters.

“Homes England have been incredibly supportive of Wirral Waters from the very beginning - and this £6m HIF grant illustrates just how crucial brownfield regeneration projects, like Wirral Waters, are in tackling the current UK housing crisis. It will also assist in relieving pressure off Wirral’s greenbelt.

“The public realm improvements along Northbank will give prospective residents and investors their first glimpse of the dramatic improvements we’re making to regenerate the dockland area and to be reassured of the quality of the residential neighbourhood being delivered. It will also ensure that this much-needed residential quarter – a genuine place for all - is well-connected to Liverpool and beyond from day one, when the very first residents move in.”

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Pat Hackett, said: “It’s fantastic to see work underway on residential developments at Wirral Waters. The Housing Infrastructure Fund grant from Homes England shows just how supportive Homes England have been in getting this development moving.

“Wirral Waters is one of the sites which is going to play a crucial role in the future development of our borough. And, as we move ahead with our Local Plan, which will outline how we aim to focus on brownfield sites, such as this, to build the new homes we need, as well as supporting our town centres and investment into the borough. It’s great to see real progress on site.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lindsay Colbeck .