Wirral Waters plans could be heard by August
The massive planning application containing details of the £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme is expected to be discussed by councillors within the next two months.
It was hoped the document would be heard during spring or early summer ahead of the World Expo in Shanghai, but its complexity has seen it delayed for several months.
Peel Developments said when completed, the East Float element of the scheme will provide 1.4m sq m of mixed-use space.
The application proposes a series of five different quarters at East Float, each with its own character and design – SkyCity, Northbank West, Four Bridges, Marina View and Vittoria Studios.
The project, which the company said is expected to be delivered over the next few decades, will provide office and workshop accommodation to support more than 20,000 jobs in a broad range of commercial sectors. The scheme will also include more than 13,000 homes aimed at a diverse mix of people, including families, plus leisure and culture facilities, and is expected to provide more than 4,000 construction jobs over the life of the entire scheme.~
Also part of Peel’s ambitious plans for Wirral Waters is an “international-quality leisure destination”, although the company has so far resisted going into any further detail.
The application, which comprises thousands of pages, is believed to be one of the biggest in the UK and had to be delivered to Wirral Council in a van when it was submitted in December last year.
Kevin Adderley, the council’s head of strategic development, said: “We are continuing to process the Wirral Waters planning application, which is complex due to the size and range of uses involved in the site.
“The applicant continues to provide necessary information and we hope to be in a position to take the application to the planning committee in late July or early August.”
Council leader Jeff Green said Wirral Waters presented a “game-changing” opportunity for the borough and, despite the change in political leadership, would continue to be supported by the authority.
He said: “We want to make sure this is progressed with all due speed, but take into account the planning rules which have to be abided by.
“I am as keen as anyone to get this moving and before a planning committee, which will need to make its mind up on the matters of the application.
“It is game changing for the people of Wirral and a vital part of the plans to regenerate the borough, particularly Birkenhead and Wallasey.”
[Image: Latest artist's impression of the Wirral Waters development 320]
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