Backed by £52m of funding, remediation work on the site of a former Wirral gasworks to make way for an ‘urban village’ of up to 1,600 new homes will begin this year. Tony McDonough reports
Proposals to build an “urban village” in Birkenhead with up to 1,600 new homes has taken a step forward with the signing of a new agreement.
Contractor John Sisk & Son has been carrying out surveys and design work, as well as vegetation clearance, at the Hind Street site. Remediation work is set to begin this year paving the way for construction of the first 633 homes.
Wirral Council and ION Developments have now signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) for the scheme. The MDA is a legal document that outlines the overall framework for pushing ahead with the development.
These homes will be delivered in phases over the next 10 to 15 years and are part of Wirral Council’s wider brownfield-first regeneration plans. In March LBN revealed the authority was seeking a further £350m from the Government for multiple projects.
It has already secured around £52m of funding for the Hind Street development. This includes £29.8m from Homes England and £22.4m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for the infrastructure works.
Initial preparatory works and the main contract to address the remediation and provide the new infrastructure are expected to take around two years, ahead of construction on the first new homes getting under way.
Hind Street is being delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with ION. The company will be initially responsible for managing the delivery of the remediation and infrastructure works on the council’s behalf.
Leader of Wirral Council, Paula Basnett, said: “This is more than just a housing development, it is the beginning of a new chapter for Birkenhead.
“The Hind Street Urban Village will transform a long-neglected site into a thriving new neighbourhood, right at the heart of our borough. It symbolises the best of our brownfield first approach: bold, sustainable regeneration that puts people and place first.
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“With hundreds of high-quality homes, green spaces, and a design shaped around community life, this development will set a new standard for urban living in Wirral. Signing this agreement is a huge step forward.”
Law firm Trowers & Hamlins provided legal advice on the MDA with strategic input from CBRE and Radics Consulting.