Wirral Waters
Encyclopedia
Wirral Waters is a large scale £4.5bn development that has been proposed by the company Peel Holdings for Birkenhead
, on the Wirral Peninsula
, England
. It is a sister programme of the Liverpool Waters
project.
and Vittoria Dock
. This is alongside a waterfront hotel bars, restaurants, other leisure facilities & 15,000 apartments which would be housed in a series of tall, modern towers. Three of these towers are designed to achieve fifty storeys.
A dedicated development is also proposed at the site of the former Bidston Dock
, close to the M53 motorway
and the Kingsway road tunnel
to Liverpool
. This will encompass an additional 571000 square feet (53,047.6 m²) of retail and leisure facilities.
The architectural practice Broadway Malyan
have been employed by Peel, and are responsible for the overall design of the development. Broadway Malyan are also responsible for the design of the redevelopment of Mann Island
, across the River Mersey
, in Liverpool.
If achieved, the plan will increase dramatically the amount of business space available in the wider conurbation. Addressing an imbalance that has seen the area develop 5000000 square feet (464,515.2 m²) less office space than other urban
centres of a similar profile. It is estimated by the developers that the scheme may lead to the creation of over 27,000 permanent jobs.
shipyard, in January 2007, to facilitate the development.
The developers intend to submit proposals to the Wirral Council
by Christmas 2008, this did not happen and on 2nd November 2009, the developers stated the would post the application soon. However, they have threatened to pull out of the scheme if the Government calls a public inquiry
into it.
On 3rd August 2010, the Wirral Waters Scheme was given full approval by Wirral Council's Planning Committee. This will lead to one of the UK's biggest developments over the next decade.
On November 29th 2010 the project cleared the final planning hurdle after being given full Government approval.
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a sister programme of the Liverpool Waters
Liverpool Waters
Liverpool Waters is a large scale £5.5bn development that has been proposed by the company Peel Holdings in the Vauxhall area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The development will make use of a series of presently derelict dock spaces at Central Docks, with much of the docks in a World Heritage...
project.
Design
To regenerate a largely unused series of dock spaces in the area, the main part of the plan may eventually see the creation of 5000000 square feet (464,515.2 m²) of modern office space at the East FloatGreat Float
The Great Float, is a body of water on the Wirral Peninsula, England formed from the natural tidal inlet, the Wallasey Pool. It is split into two large docks, East Float and West Float, both part of the Birkenhead Docks complex. The docks run approximately inland from the River Mersey, dividing...
and Vittoria Dock
Vittoria Dock
Vittoria Dock is a dock in Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, England. It was built between 1905 and 1909 within the Great Float.-The name 'Vittoria':The dock is named after the Battle of Vittoria, fought on 21 June 1813 and was designed by A.G.Lyster....
. This is alongside a waterfront hotel bars, restaurants, other leisure facilities & 15,000 apartments which would be housed in a series of tall, modern towers. Three of these towers are designed to achieve fifty storeys.
A dedicated development is also proposed at the site of the former Bidston Dock
Bidston Dock
Bidston Dock, was a dock at Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, England. It was situated to the west of the Great Float, between Bidston and Poulton.-History:...
, close to the M53 motorway
M53 motorway
The M53 is a motorway in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and Cheshire on the Wirral Peninsula in England. It can also be referred to as the Mid Wirral Motorway...
and the Kingsway road tunnel
Kingsway Tunnel
The Kingsway Tunnel is a road tunnel under the River Mersey in Merseyside, northwest England, and runs between Liverpool and Wallasey. It is one and half miles long and is often called the Wallasey Tunnel to distinguish it from the older Queensway Tunnel which runs between Liverpool and...
to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. This will encompass an additional 571000 square feet (53,047.6 m²) of retail and leisure facilities.
The architectural practice Broadway Malyan
Broadway Malyan
Broadway Malyan is an international architecture, urbanism and design practice with fifteen offices worldwide. Established in 1958, the company has been ranked as one of the top 25 architectural practices in the world....
have been employed by Peel, and are responsible for the overall design of the development. Broadway Malyan are also responsible for the design of the redevelopment of Mann Island
Mann Island
Mann Island is a small area in Liverpool, England.It lies on the waterfront next to the River Mersey between the Albert Dock to the south and the Pier Head to the north.-History:...
, across the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
, in Liverpool.
If achieved, the plan will increase dramatically the amount of business space available in the wider conurbation. Addressing an imbalance that has seen the area develop 5000000 square feet (464,515.2 m²) less office space than other urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
centres of a similar profile. It is estimated by the developers that the scheme may lead to the creation of over 27,000 permanent jobs.
Preparatory activity
Peel purchased the Cammell LairdCammell Laird
Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
shipyard, in January 2007, to facilitate the development.
Timescale
The scheme was revealed to the public in September 2006, after 18 months of design, and is still at a consultative stage. Peel have stated that the project may take up to 30 years, before it is fully realised, meaning the development may not be completed until the year 2041. Local councillors have welcomed the proposals.The developers intend to submit proposals to the Wirral Council
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
by Christmas 2008, this did not happen and on 2nd November 2009, the developers stated the would post the application soon. However, they have threatened to pull out of the scheme if the Government calls a public inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
into it.
On 3rd August 2010, the Wirral Waters Scheme was given full approval by Wirral Council's Planning Committee. This will lead to one of the UK's biggest developments over the next decade.
On November 29th 2010 the project cleared the final planning hurdle after being given full Government approval.