Wirral Waters given the thumbs up!

By Andy Downton

The UK's biggest every planning application is passed

Wirral Council's planning committee on Tuesday night approved outline plans for the £4.5bn transformation of Birkenhead's dock system.

The Wirral Waters scheme will see the Mersey riverside turned into a waterfront to rival Dubai, Sydney and New York.

So far it's taken Lyndsey Ashworth, Director at Peel, 5 years to get the plans approved which will see tens of thousands of construction staff employed over the next 40 years.

There is still another stage before we see any building work happen on the East Float site, the plans now have to go before the government who will decided whether or not they need to be called in for a Public Inquiry, if that happens Peel say they will probably scrap the whole idea.

The site will see 13,500 residential properties built being able to accommodate 20,000 people. 

There will also be a huge investment in the public transport network locally to make sure it can cope with the extra demand.

During the planning meeting, Cllr George Davies said: "We've got one chance, lets grasp it with both hands."

Last week, Leader of Liverpool Council, Cllr Joe Anderson met with Cllr Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral Council to give the project Liverpool’s seal of approval.

Cllr Joe Anderson, Leader of Liverpool Council said: “I am very happy to support Wirral Waters  and I hope that this augurs well for closer working on major economic issues throughout the city region.

“The regeneration effects of Liverpool Waters, together with Wirral Waters, will be felt across the whole of the City Region and I am delighted to be able to back Wirral Waters.”