Birkenhead regeneration plans submitted

Wirral Council has submitted a £45m bid to the government to help with plans to regenerate Birkenhead.

The local authority is aiming to secure the full £45m from the Town Deal scheme by using the Town Investment Plan to illustrate how Birkenhead’s maritime and entrepreneurial heritage will lay the foundation for a tangible transformation of the area.

If successful, the funding will see a number of flagship projects get the green light to progress, capitalising on collaborations which already exist in recent private and public sector schemes such as the Wirral Growth Company town centre development.

This could also bring in a further £54m in match funding from other private and public sector sources.

The proposals outlined in the investment plan will also complement work to be undertaken in the town centre as a result of the award last month of £25m from the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

This will include the development of new housing, a modern, purpose-built market and a mix of highways schemes which will make the town centre a much easier place to access.

Birkenhead was one of only 101 towns invited to apply for the government’s Town Deal grant last year.

‘A critical part of assuring the success of this Town Deal Investment Plan was having the input of our resident and business communities,’ said the chair of Wirral Council’s economy, regeneration and development committee, Cllr Anita Leech.

‘We want these ambitious development programmes to be meaningful to local people so they can see their potential to bring about sustainable change which will lead to an improved quality of life for those who live, work and visit this area.

‘The regeneration of Birkenhead is not just about transforming the landscape, it’s about inspiring people to take a leap of faith to be a part of community-based enterprise so they not only contribute to our local recovery but to sustainable growth, adding to shared wealth and prosperity.’

Photo Credit – Free-Photos (Pixabay)