The government has pledged £29m to jumpstart the construction of 1,500 new homes in Birkenhead's centre, with work slated to begin next year. The Hind Street Urban Village initiative promises a mix of new homes, a primary school, commercial space, and the creation of a new community.
As part of the project, two Mersey Tunnel flyovers will eventually be demolished, with 600 homes expected in the first phase. The development boasts excellent connectivity to Liverpool, being close to Birkenhead Central and Green Lane train stations, and has been hailed as a landmark project.
Announcing the £29m investment, Homes England Chief Executive Peter Denton stated: "The Liverpool City Region is undoubtedly an area with huge potential for growth and is somewhere the government has already shown commitment to. 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 [Steve Rotheram] and his team, to develop a pipeline of housing and regeneration development and help the Combined Authority unlock the region's full potential."
This new funding follows the £22m already awarded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to the project. Last week, the project reached a milestone as Wirral councillors unanimously approved the signing of several major agreements related to the project.
The project includes a £1.8m deal with ION Property Developments to oversee the scheme, a £36m contract with John Sisk and Son for site preparation, and a £2.6m agreement with Cadent for relocating gasworks on the site. The expenses will be covered by grant funding, however, staffing costs related to the project from Wirral will have to be borne by the local authority, reports .
To initiate the development, £51m of public money is required, with council reports suggesting that in a worst-case scenario, the necessary grants could exceed £140m. These high costs are attributed to land acquisition issues, planning, and preparation for new homes due to industrial pollution and the land being the former banks of the Mersey.
A planning application for the scheme submitted by long-term council partner ION is set to be considered later this year, although issues with United Utilities and the removal of two flyovers to the Queensway Tunnel are still being resolved. Liverpool-based development company ION has been involved in several complex regeneration schemes, including the £60m Marine Point development in New Brighton and £40m of investments in and around Liverpool Lime Street station.
ION's managing director, Steve Parry, said: "The Hind Street Urban Village development has the power to transform the lives of those living and working in Birkenhead," and elaborated: "We now look forward to pressing ahead with the next phase of works and bringing forward a range of new housing and amenities that will reinvigorate this part of Birkenhead and bring it back into positive use for the whole community."
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram 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."
Wirral Council leader Cllr Paul Stuart said the project would "really help to accelerate" Birkenhead's plans.
He added: "I'm pleased our ambitious ideas to transform this key area have this backing, enabling us to get started bringing along new homes, public spaces and better-connected living for our residents."
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