Birkenhead regeneration gets £51m investment boost

Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will team up to fund the regeneration of a former gasworks in Birkenhead, Merseyside. The £51m deal will kick start plans for the project on the Wirral, which will feature redevelopment of derelict land around Hind Street into a new community of over 1,500 homes, a park, improved transport links, commercial space and leisure facilities. The former Rock Ferry to Bidston Dock railway line will also be brought back to life as Dock Branch Park. The project is being delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with developers Ion, who have been appointed to undertake development management services including the design of the scheme, the remediation and infrastructure works required, and the submission of the planning application. Subject to planning approval, it is expected to start on site in 2025 and complete in 2027. Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, has agreed a £29m injection into the project, following a £22m commitment from the combined authority. This will fund infrastructure works needed to unlock the site and deliver the first 633 homes. The move follows hot on the heels of the establishment of a strategic place partnership between Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, designed to support the most ambitious proposals for housing growth. Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This project will serve as a blueprint for the type of regeneration we want to see across the Liverpool City Region – regeneration that not only delivers homes but creates jobs, boosts local businesses, and builds stronger communities. “It is a prime example of how, by working together, we can unlock opportunities and remove the barriers holding our region back. By delivering key infrastructure and attracting investment, we are ensuring that local people benefit directly from the improvements, making this a place where everyone has the chance to thrive.” Peter Denton, chief executive at Homes England, said: “The funding approved today for Hind Street Urban Village is further evidence of our support for the region and aligns with our mission to work together with the mayor and his team, to develop a pipeline of housing and regeneration development and help the Combined Authority unlock the region’s full potential.” Get analytics data for Birkenhead >> Photo: Peter Denton (left) and Steve Rotheram (right) © Homes England