Study warns that Wirral Waters must integrate with local area

  Peel Holdings’ £4.5bn Wirral Waters regeneration scheme in Birkenhead, Merseyside, must be integrated with the local area, a study into the project has warned.   The report, which has been compiled by GVA Grimley on behalf of Wirral council, also suggests that a regeneration body ought to be established to oversee Birkenhead’s future.   The Integrated Regeneration Study for Birkenhead and Wirral Waters will be considered by the council’s cabinet on June 24.   A stronger emphasis should be placed on the regeneration of the existing Birkenhead town centre, the report urges, with Wirral Waters fully integrated with it.   The document states that: “Although Wirral Waters is very important to the regeneration of the borough, it must be integrated with the surrounding areas, specifically including the [town’s housing market renewal] area and Birkenhead town centre.”   The next stages are preparing an integrated masterplan for Birkenhead town centre and creating a new council-led body to lead Birkenhead’s revival.   Last December, Peel submitted what it claims is the largest planning application in the UK for the East Float part of Wirral Waters.   East Float proposes a sustainable high-density and part high-rise regeneration, providing 1.4m sq m of mixed use development and around 13,000 homes.   The planning application was expected to go before Wirral’s planning committee in spring 2010, but has now been pushed back to the end of July.   daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com