PLANS to build more than 1,000 new homes as part of the Wirral Waters development have received a £6m boost in Government funding.

The money will be used by Wirral Council and Peel Holdings to carry out infrastructure works, including land remediation, public realm works and utilities provision at the Northbank site.

The development is earmarked as a 'south-facing, waterfront residential neighbourhood' anchored by the existing Grade-2 listed East Float apartment block as part of the docklands regeneration scheme in Birkenhead.

The £6m is part of an overall £866m investment from the Housing Infrastructure Fund that will help pave the way for completion of 1,100 homes on the site by 2025.

Heralded as the country's biggest regeneration project, the Wirral Waters scheme was launched in 2010.

In November 2016, the site became one of just six new Housing Zones established by the government alongside sites in Sheffield, Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Barnsley, Sandwell and Blackburn and Burnley.

Cllr George Davies, Wirral's cabinet member for Housing and Community Safety, said: "I don't think there is a bigger priority for the council over the next few years than providing good quality new housing.

"It is at the heart of our commitment to growing the local economy - attracting new businesses and investment to the borough, creating new jobs and helping existing employers in the borough to grow and expand.

"I am delighted our bid for funding to the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been successful.

"This will help get plans for a major new housing development on the Northbank site off the ground, which will ultimately lead to the availability of more than 1,000 new homes on a brownfield site in an important, well connected locations.

"It's fantastic news for local residents."

Welcoming the news, Birkenhead MP Frank Field, who contributed to the bid, told the Globe: "This is a timely and vitally important boost for Wirral.

"It will ensure the local authority is able to fund every piece of infrastructure it requires to deliver a major housebuilding programme.

"Today's news must now form the first plank of a wider investment programme which can provide new homes and more jobs for the area.

"Having been working for the past year with the leader of the local authority to try piecing together such a programme, I hope shortly to report further developments"

At the time Wirral Waters was announced in 2010, it was anticipated that around 27,000 new jobs would be created over the next 30 years along with the complete transformation of derelict land at East Float Docks.

But the project had come in for criticism after appearing to have stalled, prompting calls from Wirral councillor Brian Kenny for progress to be made.

But Peel confirmed last March that work had been going on behind the scenes in preparations for a range of projects including:

Development of Laird House office building.

Planning permission has also been given for housing projects.

Transformation of a disused Grade II, Victorian Hydraulic Tower on Tower Road into a centre for engineering skills.

A village hub for creative industries at Egerton Square.

A council spokesman said more announcements on Wirral Waters are expected shortly.