A large area of abandoned land in central Birkenhead between two Merseyrail stations could be transformed into a brand new community with the construction of up to 1,600 homes. The ambitious plans by Ion Developments also include new public squares, a park, hotels, gyms, a primary school, health facilities, and pubs.
Ion is planning 1,600 homes across 26 hectares of vacant land between Green Lane and Birkenhead Central stations. The urban village is one of Wirral Council's biggest proposals under its plans for Birkenhead and is up for approval by councillors this week.
Steve Parry, Ion's managing director, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the project has "the power to transform the lives" of people in the area "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."
The development has been supported by £51m of public money. In addition to the new homes, the plans also propose new offices, workspaces, retail spaces, gym and fitness suites, restaurants, hotels, community spaces, student accommodation, a new cycle route, and the south end of the planned Dock Branch park.
The first homes in the development have however been delayed by three years, according to the latest housing update from Wirral Council. The report, published in December 2024, revealed that the initial 120 homes won't be ready until 2028, with a total of 1,130 homes expected to be completed by 2040, reports .
The plans also include demolishing two flyovers leading to the Birkenhead tunnel and rerouting a sewer beneath the site. Only one neutral comment was made about the application after 8,383 flyers were distributed to local households, and the plans are likely to be approved.
Council officers have recommended approval of the application, subject to 82 conditions, and have referred it to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government as it deviates from the Unitary Development Plan adopted in 2000.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which has already contributed £22.4m to the project, expressed concerns about the proposed removal of the flyover.
The authority requested involvement in any future demolition plans and suggested including Hind Street in a heat network plan to potentially lower energy bills.
The Dock Branch Park is seen as a crucial element in making Birkenhead more attractive for development, offering a key public space and travel route. The plans indicate that the park's southern end will feature play areas, extensive landscaping, seating, artwork, an arrival plaza and viewpoints.
To the south of the site, there are proposals to construct homes ranging from two to seven storeys, with ground floor spaces allocated for retail, restaurants, and workplaces around play areas, all centred around a village square offering views towards Hamilton Square and Birkenhead Town Hall. In other sections of the site, buildings will vary from three to seven storeys, housing new shops, bars, and medical services.
In the north of the site, plans include a new primary school, a multi-storey car park, student accommodation and potentially a hotel. Towards Argyle Street, the proposal includes new office blocks and a mix of residential apartments, commercial buildings, and hotel facilities.
The first phase of development involves everything south of Hind Street, comprising family housing and mid-rise apartment buildings, as well as the southern end of the Dock Branch Park. The subsequent phase will see the construction of apartments, commercial units, a new primary school and multi-storey car park north of Hind Street, followed by plans for hotels, additional apartments, and offices at the very north of the site.
Ion Developments is seeking permission for a 15-year phased delivery of their project. The urban village, as outlined in the officers' report, would align with the local authority's draft Local Plan and contribute to the regeneration of the St Werburgh's area, with approximately 160 homes earmarked as affordable.
The proposal will be reviewed by councillors at a special planning meeting on January 16.
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