Green light for Wirral urban village

Ion Developments is preparing to kick off the redevelopment of a former gasworks in Birkenhead into a new urban village. The move comes after Wirral Council, which is a stakeholder in the scheme, unanimously resolved to approve the proposals last week, despite a departure from the council’s unitary development plan. The site, around Hind Street, adjacent to Birkenhead town centre, will deliver up to 1,600 new homes following the completion of the remediation and infrastructure works, which are scheduled to begin this autumn. The primary enabling works are already ongoing, for which the council has secured £51m of funding from Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The approximate total GVA for the scheme is £530m. Paul Stuart, leader of Wirral Council, said: “We are totally committed to changing this part of Birkenhead for the benefit of local communities, and our plans for regeneration go beyond just building – we are focused on boosting Wirral’s economy in the long term, reducing inequalities, creating employment opportunities and improving the health and wellbeing of those individuals and families who are making their homes and lives in our borough.” Image © Ion Developments