Council leader Phil Davies confident there will be ‘spades in the ground’ within 12 months as he officially launches the Wirral Growth Company – first unveiled in Cannes in March. Tony McDonough reports

Wirral new regeneration body is seeking £1bn worth of investment to transform its waterfront – with potential global investors already showing an interest.

On Monday, Wirral council leader Phil Davies unveiled further details about the Wirral Growth Company – first unveiled at the MIPIM property and investment expo in Cannes in March.

It is hoped the development programme will see the creation of thousands of jobs.

Click to watch a video being used to tempt investors to Wirral

Cllr Davies says following his prevention to an international audience in Cannes a number of potential investors had already shown an interest.

He said he was confident there would be “spades in the ground” within 12 months. Investment opportunities include:

• The waterfront area around the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead, overlooking the Liverpool skyline
• Transforming Birkenhead town centre with new retail, leisure and civic developments
• Building on the success of New Brighton with more residential and commercial developments
• Revitalising communities such as Moreton, Bebington and Seacombe with a mixture of residential, commercial and leisure projects

Cllr Davies said: “Following the recent successes of Liverpool and Manchester, I am proud to be putting Wirral forward as the next great Northern regeneration opportunity.

“Only a few months ago we went to the world’s largest property and development conference to introduce Wirral to the globe’s biggest investors and developers.

“We shared our vision for £1bn worth of development opportunities but we also knew we needed to put a modern, commercially viable organisation in place to help us deliver our goal.

“The Wirral Growth Company is that organisation, and next week I will be asking my Cabinet to approve the business case which will allow us to formally  find the investor partner who will turn our plans into the bricks and mortar developments, jobs and economic growth we all want for Wirral.”

The council is putting in land and other assets into the growth company and the successful partner will be expected to match this commitment with capital and other resources to quickly drive regeneration projects at key sites throughout the borough.

“We will start the competition at the end of this month, inviting developers and investors to submit their ideas and proposals, and we will be in a position to sign up with our new partner by the end of the year,” Cllr Davies added.

“Residents will see spades in the ground on new construction developments in the borough by early 2018.”