Wirral Waters

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Wirral Waters is a large scale £4.5bn development that has been proposed by the company Peel Holdings for Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, in the United Kingdom.

1 Design
2 Timescale
3 External Links
4 References

[edit] 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 5 million square feet of modern office space at the East Float & Vittoria Dock. This is alongside 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 artery motorway & Kingsway Road Tunnel to Liverpool. This will encompass an additional 571,000 square feet of retail & leisure facilities.

The architectural practice Broadway Malyan ^[1] 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 5 million square feet 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.^[2]

[edit] Timescale

The scheme was revealed to the public in September 2006, after 18 months of design, and is still at an early consultative stage. Peel have stated that the masterplan may take up to 30 years, before it is fully realised.

The outline planning application is expected to be submitted to Wirral Borough Council during the summer of 2007.^[3] Local councillors have already expressed a welcome for the proposals.