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Building work has begun on three projects which will bring 1,000 homes to Birkenhead and breathe new life into 500 acres of former dockland in the town.

The news came after developers Peel L&P secured one of the biggest ever HIF (Housing Infrastructure Fund) grants to be awarded outside London.

The £6m grant will be used for essential utilities, infrastructure and public realm work at Wirral Waters .

This includes improving cycling routes, creating dockside walkways and new public squares, as well as public transport integration and improvements to local amenities and car parking.



Peel’s three residential projects include Wirral Waters One, a £90m development of one and two-bedroom apartments and affordable homes; Urban Splash, a £55m development of modern, modular homes; and Belong Village, a specialist dementia care village.

Richard Mawdsley, director of development for Wirral Waters at Peel L&P, said: “This is the moment we have all been waiting for as work finally begins on these three impressive housing projects, and the first of many residential schemes to be built at Wirral Waters.

“Homes England have been incredibly supportive of Wirral Waters from the very beginning and this £6m HIF grant illustrates just how crucial brownfield regeneration projects, like Wirral Waters, are in tackling the current UK housing crisis and taking pressure off our greenbelts.

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“The public realm improvements along Northbank will give prospective residents and investors their first glimpse of the dramatic improvements we’re making to regenerate the dockland area and to be reassured of the quality of the residential neighbourhood being delivered.

“It will also ensure that this much-needed residential quarter is well-connected to Liverpool and beyond from day one, when the very first residents move in.”

(Image: Christian Smith)

Leader of Wirral Council , Cllr Pat Hackett, said: “It’s fantastic to see work underway on residential developments at Wirral Waters. The HIF grant from Homes England shows just how supportive Homes England have been in getting this development moving.

“Wirral Waters is one of the sites which is going to play a crucial role in the future development of our borough.

“And, as we move ahead with our Local Plan, which will outline how we aim to focus on brownfield sites such as this to build the new homes we need, as well as supporting our town centres and investment into the borough, it’s great to see real progress on site.”