Wirral plans 21,000 homes and £350 million investment

Wirral Council is moving forward with plans to bring 21,000 new homes and a £350 million investment to Birkenhead. This step was called a significant milestone in the town's regeneration efforts. If the government approves the plans, a partnership led by the council will help create thousands of new jobs over the next 20 years. At a recent committee meeting, councillors approved an outline business case for the project. This case will be sent to the government for approval as part of the application process. Although a local-led development company was initially considered, the council chose to pursue a local authority-led approach for the regeneration. To start the process by 2026, the council will need £5.6 million over five years to hire 12 key positions. Some councillors raised concerns about the council's capacity to handle multiple projects, as well as the limited involvement of private sector partners. However, Council leader Paul Stuart emphasized that this business case is an important step towards achieving the council's goals. The overall £350 million plan will cover various projects in the town, including £58 million for a new urban village and £150 million for the town center. Councillors also advanced a £10.8 million government grant for improving Liscard, which includes plans for new housing and a community center. There was some confusion about whether council officers would have the authority to make changes to the project beyond a £1.5 million threshold. Some councillors argued about the agreement on this issue, while others criticized the Green Party for opposing regeneration efforts while delaying progress. Throughout the meeting, the council also discussed policies to improve public engagement and transfer council-owned facilities into community hands.