Plans have been revealed for a new landing stage for the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead and a refresh of the U-Boat Story attraction. Tony McDonough reports

Woodside Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead is set for a multi-million pound revamp with the installation of a new landing stage and a refresh of the U-Boat Story attraction.

In August LBN reported how work by Woodside Area CIC has already seen the terminal transformed by the opening of Woodside Ferry Village food and drink attraction inside the main building and a regular ‘makers market’ outside.

Now Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is ready to appoint designers for an all new Mersey Ferries landing stage. The current landing stage has come to the end of its natural life and a replacement is needed.

Wirral’s other ferry terminal, Seacombe, is currently closed until the spring while it undergoes a £7m refurbishment. In the last few days the existing linkspan bridges, which were more than 130 years old, were removed and replaced with two new bridges.

Subject to funding being secured, the new landing stage will help maintain cross-river services running from Woodside as part of the Combined Authority’s long-term vision for the Mersey Ferries.

It is also partnering with Big Heritage to refresh the historic U-Boat Story attraction, located next to the terminal building. As the operators of the award-winning Western Approaches HQ museum in Liverpool, which brings to life the crucial Battle of the Atlantic, the organisation are seen as the ideal partners for the new arrangement.

Birkenhead is already undergoing significant regeneration. Peel L&P is making progress on the multi-billion pound Wirral Waters project which is seeing the creation of new office space, modular homes and the £23m Maritime Knowledge Hub.

And in the town centre, Canada Life has agreed to fund the £75m construction of two grade A office buildings totalling 150,000 sq ft. The project is being brought forward by Wirral Growth Company, a joint venture between Wirral Council and Muse Developments.

Mr Rotheram said: “Our region is an international destination of choice, attracting millions of visitors from around the world to sample our unique blend of sport, music, culture, heritage, history and hospitality.

“The Western Approaches has grown into a fantastic attraction in Liverpool city centre over the past few years, and their experience could help turn the U-Boat story into a similarly popular attraction over on the Wirral. I’m sure the investments we’re making in Woodside will help contribute to the wider renaissance that we’re seeing in Birkenhead.”

The move will link two of the best-known historic visitor attractions in the Liverpool city region as well as helping to highlight the important role played by the region and its residents during the Second World War.

Dean Paton, chief executive of Big Heritage, added: “We are incredibly excited to become the new custodians of U-534. We hope to enhance the visitor experience in the same way we have at Western Approaches and can now contextualise the impact of U-Boat warfare alongside the achievements of those who nullified their threat.

“From the genius of the Wrens of Western Approaches to the superhuman efforts of the shipbuilders at Cammell Laird – we will ensure their stories are told. We see this as the first stage in creating a new cross-river heritage experience of international significance.”