Wirral's independent local news website Wirral Council is currently spending nearly £12m of grant funding on two projects in Birkenhead town centre including new paving as well as walking and cycle routes The projects are a key part of the local authority’s regeneration plans for the town The funding will see major changes to the high street on Grange Road new cycle lanes and walking routes on Conway Street and Europa Boulevard Part of Grange Road West will also be temporarily reduced to one lane “to encourage more people to visit and spend time there as well as improved links to Grange Road itself” New trees have now been planted along Grange Road and traffic lights and barriers around the Charing Cross junction at the top are set to be lifted in June The sign the works are months away from being finished will come as a relief to businesses in the area who have reported a drop in trade the council said no one “could have failed to notice the extensive works taking place,” adding “Such a large-scale transformation of a busy town centre cannot happen without some disruption being caused to traffic and local traders the council – and its partner in this project Graham – are continuing to plan and deliver works in a way that keep disruption to a minimum “Graham continue to keep local businesses informed about the progress and whenever possible the message is reinforced that Birkenhead remains very much open for business as usual.” The entrance to the Pyramids Shopping Centre is expected to be done by June while Europa Square car park is expected to be closed until September the works on Grange Road are expected to be finished which means the work will be finished before Christmas “We fully understand that people are frustrated that their journey times through Birkenhead are a bit longer or they may have to walk around safety fencing to get into their favourite shop “It would be impossible to carry out such extensive works without managing traffic and cordoning off areas being worked on – this is a significant project and it has to be carried out safely and appropriately residents and local businesses will see the benefits of the quality environmental and safety improvements that are being made “The improvements are designed to provide a more attractive place for people to shop visit or work and to support the regeneration of Birkenhead town centre by providing an improved better connected and more sustainable experience for all who use this area.” Alongside the update on the scheme’s progress two videos have been released by the local authority showing how the area will look on both Europa Boulevard and Conway Street to the north of the town centre as well as on Grange Road and Charing Cross Email us at news@birkenhead.news a man dubbed 'The Beast of Birkenhead' says the discovery of new DNA evidence could be the breakthrough he's been waiting for He was jailed in 1987 for the murder of Diane Sindall in Wirral and has now served almost 40 years in prison He confessed to the crime - but later retracted his statement Ms Sindall's body was found in an alley near Borough Road in Birkenhead on August 2 1986 She'd worked a shift at the Wellington Pub nearby A post-mortem revealed the 21-year-old had a fractured skull But now fresh doubts have been cast over his conviction That DNA does not have any matches on the national database has represented Mr Sullivan for almost 20 years She's now hopeful this his conviction could be quashed She told ITV Granada Reports: "He has always said that he is innocent the new evidence has encouraged him even more It was quite significant when were informed about the DNA evidence and the match not being with Peter it was the breakthrough that he'd been waiting for." The case will now be heard at the Court of Appeal next month Peter Sullivan could be the victim of this country's longest-ever miscarriage of justice suffered by one person Addressing the mental toil of three decades behind the bars "He's spent nearly 40 years in custody in a prison with the highest secure conditions and that is going to have an impact on anybody "If he is released then the true impact of that time will take some time to show." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Seddon won a four-way battle to be selected for the new market Wirral Council’s director of regeneration and place has given the nod for the contractor to carry out pre-construction services advancing the conversion of former retail space at 1 Princes Pavement is earmarked for a new market hall for Birkenhead Wirral has secured £14m from the Future High Street Fund to bankroll the project Four experienced contractors had bid for the work and following evaluation by the project team and advisors Corstorphine & Wright is the architect for the market at the Grange Shopping Centre It will occupy close to 33,000 sq ft with 13 retail units said: “Progress on the new Market is an important part of our wider plans for Birkenhead so it’s great to see this continuing to move forward “We are committed to delivering a vibrant and popular new Birkenhead Market and this is part of a massive investment in the town and its central shopping area “Our intention is to ensure Birkenhead is a destination people want to visit as part of attracting the inward investment which will bring high-quality jobs for our residents and through all this foster economic growth “In this way we can make Wirral an even better place where people want to live The “soft strip” demolition of the unit at Princes Pavement was completed late last year opening the way for fit-out work starting for the new market This had followed engagement with community and traders on proposals for the market including presenting detailed design images showing how the new revitalised Birkenhead Market could look including potential layout for traders’ stalls This latest contract is to finalise the design of the new Birkenhead Market and inform a fixed price for the next construction phase at a contract price of £188,487.31 with a contingency of £50,000 built in to cover any additional surveys that are identified as a requirement for design development The target delivery programme indicates a practical completion date for the main base build works of March 2026 Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Why not use the old M&S building and bring traders right back into the centre of Birkenhead The council have had their way for far too long with those stupid new office blocks that are still vacant Will the market in the old Argos site just be a daft market selling Artisan rubbish that no one wants or can’t afford Birkenhead needs a proper market like it used to be …. ” artisan rubbish” you call it hey ho what a tasteful individual you sound the Wirral is crawling with charity shops Some people pursue a more stylish and quality inspired lifestyle but in some quarters here they are deemed to be snobs yet this kind of outlook is normal abroad where not that well-off people have a tasteful mindset and they enjoy their food markets and find them places to socialise Definitely the wrong location – poor decision of WMBC I am really intrigued by the plans that are or may really happen will it really happen or is it wishful dream thinking I really do hope these things will happen as LIVERPOOL WATERS are already ahead OF BIRKENHEAD will my great old town have a good future ahead and have SECURITY for our childrens safety and future 🤔 Looks like every other tarted up,yet depressing ” market hall” Contractor J Freeley will begin what is expected to be an 18-week programme bringing down a municipal building at Seaview Road in Liscard to make way for affordable housing Plans are in for the development of a fitness and wellness club at Bidston Dock providing both indoor and outdoor facilities Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" The Hind Street urban village development is a major project to deliver a new neighbourhood in Birkenhead between Central and Green Lane stations It’s aimed at creating an intergenerational community on derelict land including for young people looking to move or stay in Wirral 1,600 homes are planned across 26 hectares of vacant land by Ion Developments and includes a mix of homes including build-to-rent The new urban village is one of the biggest proposals put forward by Wirral Council as part of its plans for Birkenhead with 633 homes to be delivered in the initial phase as well as community spaces have been put forward The plans could also include new student accommodation as well as a new cycle route This is intended to eventually run from Green Lane to Wirral Waters the Dock Branch Park will run to Jackson Street due to issues with bridges in the northern section councillors backed plans for the development and £52m of funding has been given by Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority who were previously appointed by the council The project is being overseen by Ion Developments which previously delivered projects like New Brighton’s Marine Point said they hadn’t been able to do further investigations before they had the grant funding but now things were moving forward and work was picking up pace “They are doing site clearing and investigations to finalise the prices they will start with the main remediation works “There’s nothing untoward being found and in fact some things are better than we thought they were It’s a case of digging holes and cleaning the place up for quite a period.” The site has been through many uses once originally part of the Mersey estuary and later the land was occupied by the Mollington Street rail depot and a gas works the costs of development are higher due to contamination clearance and more work has to be done to make sure any future homes are built safely Along the eastern edge of the site is the former Dock Branch railway line “What we are looking to do with the Dock Branch Park is with most projects that bit tends to come at the end of the scheme when everything else is finished We are keen to bring it forward so people can use that facility early on “It will probably be delivered before the housing You would be able to look over the side as it’s progressing “It’s not just sticking some houses on an old gas works It’s about creating a new community and a new environment to live in.” As for when the new homes might start to be delivered “We are two years away from starting on site for housing though we are looking to try and rephase things we may be looking at the latter part of next year.” a plan to demolish the flyovers is also moving forward though works aren’t expected to begin for another two years and will take place in 11 stages Ion has been keen to stress the plans will be tested right up until they take place to minimise disruption to drivers using the Queensway Tunnel Lead image: Preparation work begins on Hind Street Urban Village It is a round-up of the important local news stories you may have missed over the last seven days Click or tap on each story to read the full article ★ Join our Facebook group for Birkenhead ★Visit Birkenhead Gossip (NEW!) and tap ‘Join’ An update has been issued on major plans to regenerate Birkenhead town centre as building works continue to cause disruption for businesses Read more… An effort to revitalise a long-neglected youth club into a vibrant community hub in New Ferry is nearing its final milestone—securing the funding needed to open its doors led by local football club New Ferry Rangers has been in development for nearly eight years What began as a vision to breathe new life into a disused building has evolved into a fully renovated facility poised to become a central hub for the Wirral community “This was never just about saving a building,” said Simon Crabtree of New Ferry Rangers “It was about creating a space the entire community could benefit from—a place that brings people together Read more… £2m has been spent on buying 15 new bin lorries as Wirral Council prepares to bring in food waste collections The major change to bin services is happening due to a government change across England The change is being brought in across England following a law passed under the previous Conservative government in 2021 with the aim of improving recycling rates Read more… Keep up to date with all the latest Wirral news by liking our Facebook page Like us on Facebook … A mum who suffered life-changing injuries after being hit by a car has returned to the Major Trauma Centre that saved her life to unveil a revamped relatives’ room made possible by the charity that supported her spent three months in Aintree University Hospital after emergency surgery to amputate her right leg and reconstruction of her pelvis and left leg when she was crushed between two cars in Wallasey in 2021 Read more… Sunny skies and an inflatable crocodile prompt safety reminders from West Kirby RNLI West Kirby RNLI volunteer crew were tasked following reports of two individuals wading in deep water near Middle Eye The D class lifeboat, Leonard Pownall launched in under 10 minutes and began a sweep of the islands Read more… Wirral Council has revealed the final date people can make their voice heard as the local authority prepares to potentially close six more libraries The local authority is planning to only operate eight libraries going forward under plans revealed on 2 May This is after cuts to the council service of £250,000 were approved unanimously earlier this year Wirral Council said the proposals would create “comprehensive accessible and sustainable facilities that will meet the needs of Wirral communities,” adding this would be in line with the law Read more… Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) has teamed up with local charities to provide training sessions on autism and other neurodivergent conditions to its staff.  The training workshops have been launched during World Autism Acceptance Month which raises awareness and acceptance of autism to help create a society where autistic people are supported Autism is a neurological condition that can shape how a person communicates Read more… The sound of youthful chatter and senior laughter fills the air at Oxton Grange care home in Prenton every few weeks thanks to a heartwarming intergenerational programme with nearby Co-op Academy Portland.  ranging in age and including children from the school’s dedicated ‘beehive class’ have been building meaningful relationships with residents since September proving that age is no barrier to friendship says that “the intergenerational project is really valuable to our pupils – some of whom have communication difficulties I’ve really seen the children thrive since we started the monthly visits in September Their confidence has grown through these new and special experiences Read more… To send a letter to the editor to be considered for publication, please email news@birkenhead.news Wirral Council won’t say when it plans to introduce new parking charges at 22 car parks that are currently free as well as roads in three coastal areas the local authority announced a plan to see charges introduced at 22 car parks and on roads in three coastal areas where they’re currently free Car parks where people already pay have now seen an increase with a £1 charge brought in overnight The plans quickly drew backlash from people in areas like New Brighton and Bromborough with thousands signing petitions Read more… A mum and daughter have received a payout of £3,500 after Wirral Council apologised for the “distress” caused by failings that meant a teenager dropped out of college The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) investigated a complaint by a Wirral mum who made a complaint about delays and poor communication from Wirral Council health and care plan (EHCP) for her daughter who has special education needs and disabilities (SEND) finding the council at fault for causing an injustice to both the mum and daughter Read more… The man often credited for helping regenerate a Merseyside coastal resort has hit back at those complaining about noise as his live music bar looks to extend its opening hours said he wanted to be a good neighbour and said that the changes were needed to make things viable the company behind the regeneration of Victoria Road in New Brighton had asked Wirral Council to vary its licence for Rockpoint Records and extend its opening hours Read more… Building work on new homes could start as early as 2026 as part of a major Birkenhead development that will also see a new £15m park created Read more… West Kirby RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assisted an injured birdwatcher who had slipped on rocks at Hilbre Island on Monday afternoon West Kirby RNLI’s volunteer crew was tasked by HM Coastguard at 1.03pm following reports of a person who had fallen on the rocks at Hilbre Island and potentially suffered a dislocated shoulder The volunteer crew launched the D class lifeboat, Leonard Pownall within 10 minutes and carefully assessed the best route to reach the casualty due to the ebbing tide Read more… The Tranmere Rovers Legends charity match is set to take place for the 12th year raising awareness and funds for local suicide prevention charity a host of former professional footballers will join Wirral Radio FC players in a charity match to raise funds for The Martin Gallier Project and Wirral Radio FC at Ashville Football Club in memory of their teammate Kieran Nye who sadly took his own life in 2019 “The Martin Gallier Project is a Wirral-based charity who specialise in suicide prevention so to raise money for such a fantastic charity in Kieran’s name is a very proud moment for all of us at the Club.” Read more… Tranmere Rovers ended their 2024/25 campaign in style with a convincing 4-1 win away at Newport County Manager Andy Crosby made three changes to the side that beat Crewe and Sam Taylor in place of the suspended Regan Hendry along with Connor Wood and Harvey Saunders Kristian Dennis cleared the danger with a header before Luke McGee saved a follow-up effort from Anthony Glennon Join the Tranmere Rovers community on Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/tranmererovers/ Read more… This is the Birkenhead News weekly round-up of police and crime news in and around Wirral during the last seven days Read more… Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks See the What’s On? Guide … Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) is celebrating the extraordinary dedication and career journeys of its maternity team—shining a spotlight on those who make a lasting difference to women and families across our region who has been an integral part of WUTH’s maternity team since 2019 Jamie’s inspiring path from domestic assistant to bereavement maternity support worker captures the very spirit of this year’s theme: ‘Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis’ Jamie began her journey as a domestic at Arrowe Park Hospital and it was her placement in the maternity unit that reignited a passion for the profession “I learned so much about the hospital in that role,” she recalls “When a housekeeper position came up on the delivery suite Her dedication led her to successfully apply for a newly created role bereavement maternity support worker—one introduced nationally following the Ockenden Maternity Review to improve care for families experiencing baby loss In this emotionally demanding yet deeply meaningful role Jamie provides compassionate support to those going through unimaginable grief “but it’s a privilege to help families create lasting memories of their little one Jamie credits the unwavering support of her team—particularly her manager Hannah Blake—for giving her the support and confidence to pursue her dream She has now secured a place at Liverpool John Moores University to study midwifery with the hope of returning to WUTH in the future “The midwives here are such genuinely kind and caring people,” she said Divisional Director of Nursing for the Women and Children’s Hospital said It shows there are many ways to become a midwife and every path brings valuable experience to the role “I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our midwives who work tirelessly every day and strength ensure families receive the highest standard of care at one of the most important times in their lives.” The consultation is about reintroducing the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that had been in place covering the industrial retail and residential areas around Riverview Road in Bromborough for the last three years That original order was introduced after complaints of anti-social behaviour involving large numbers of motor vehicles together with large numbers of spectators gathering and holding races along public highways in the area That order had been largely successful in addressing those complaints and reducing the number of incidents similar complaints of anti-social behaviour were starting to increase including Wirral Council and Merseyside Police with the support of businesses and residents in the area As well as causing nuisance and potential dangers the activity also resulted in damage to the highway and street furniture The area for the proposed renewal of the PSPO incorporates public roads bounded between A41 New Chester Road from Old Hall Road to Old Court House Road to the River Mersey this also includes private derelict industrial land It also covers public car parks on the Croft Retail Park along with multiple shopping and leisure venues including restaurants There is a map of the area covered by the PSPO on the consultation web pages A PSPO is a provision created by the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 It is intended to deal with particular nuisances or problems in a defined area that are considered to be detrimental to the local community’s quality of life It can do this by imposing conditions on the use of that area which will apply to everyone so that the majority of people can enjoy the public space The Council has the power to implement PSPOs with the purpose of stopping individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in public spaces do anything that the person is prohibited from doing by a Public Spaces Protection Order A person guilty of such an offence is liable to a fine on prosecution (currently a maximum of £1,000) Authorised officers can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (£100) if appropriate Details of how to get involved in the consultation can be found on the Have Your Say consultation site Image: https://depositphotos.com/ but saw their season finish with a silver lining when they lifted the Pyke Cup previously held for the past four seasons by Mossley Hill Ath. after two goal Jamie Alty left his calling card in Thursday’s 2-0 result over Aintree Villa as FC Bootle concluded their league programme with a 4-3 victory at relegated Runcorn Sports An Alty double was supplemented by further efforts from Matty McHale and Jack Flynn Despite an encouraging spate of results in recent weeks suffered a 4-2 defeat at Litherland Remyca Res. which preserved the hosts’ top-flight status and at the same time The visitors replied via Jawad Jebrin and Josh Ross A goal from Leuan Hewitt was scant reward for Chester Nomads who capitulated 5-1 at home to AFC Knowsley Brandon O’Keefe’s hat-trick and a double from Carl Peers confirmed the scoreline and in a similar vein a Joel Robinson double failed to prevent Heswall from going down 7-2 at Marshalls The curtain came down on Division Two’s league programme with a 2-1 victory for champions FC Kirkby at Maghull Res. whose consolation effort came from Andrew Dawber Tuesday evening’s Development Trophy final was settled 2-0 in Great Sutton’s favour against Vauxhall Motors U18s courtesy of a goal apiece from Dylan Cotgrave and John Skipsey Great Sutton’s penultimate Division Three fixture ended in a 3-2 defeat at Capenhurst Villa Res. who sealed the issue thanks to goals from Luke Edwards (2) and James Dear The visitors had Lewis Handford and Leo Jones in reply Christleton finished their campaign with a flourish after Monday saw the Chester outfit overcome Maghull U23s 4-0 with goals from Jack Richards the 7-0 victory at Willaston featured efforts from Diego Cabezuala (2) A smart double from Sean Pollard anchored Rainhill Town Res while efforts from Andy Rogers and Will Shuker helped Neston Nomads U23s to a 2-2 stalemate with Sefton Park Rangers Sean Pollard (2) and Jamie Connor netted for the visitors Jack Gordon’s hat-trick was to no avail for Cammell Laird 1907 U23s who crashed 7-3 at Ellesmere Port Town U23s and Connor Davies shared the goals for the victors A solitary strike from Adam Palfrey earned Pilkington all three points from their trip to Vauxhall Motors in the Youth Division Group A while respective marksmen in Athletico Blues’ 2-2 draw with Helsby were George Murray Felix Jones found the net for Christleton but finished on the losing side at Hooton who ran out 4-1 winners with goals from Roman Kenny (2) Will Hoey struck twice and was joined on the scoresheet by Dan Dearing as Maghull enjoyed a 3-1 result over West Kirby Utd has been formally identified as 16-year-old Zack Sim to a reports a teenager had gone into the water It is currently believed that Zack may have suffered a medical episode and fallen into the water At this stage it is believed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Zack’s death and the matter has been referred to the coroner Image: GOOGLE  James Clarke – a pioneering figure who dedicated his life to saving others and building community in the city he made his home – has now been immortalised in the city’s newest piece of public art Commissioned by Liverpool-based charity Mandela8 in partnership with Riverside Foundation the mural celebrates the legacy of a life-saving hero and shines a light on the positive stories and histories of diversity in our communities James Clarke arrived in Liverpool as a teenager and quickly became a beloved local figure From rescuing children from the docks and canals to teaching hundreds to swim at Wavertree Swimming Club James became a symbol of selflessness and solidarity in Liverpool His bravery earned him multiple medals and a certificate from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society and his name lives on in James Clarke Street – making him the first Black man in Liverpool to receive such a civic honour A plaque at Wavertree Aquatics Centre also commemorates his dedication to water safety and his medals and certificate are on display at the Museum of Liverpool located in Athol Village in the city’s Kirkdale area was painted by acclaimed local artist John Culshaw It was officially unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Richard Kemp CBE – reflecting Liverpool City Council’s commitment to celebrating the contributions of people from migrant and minority backgrounds Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities Liverpool has long been a city shaped by migration and James embodies the best of that tradition — someone who gave back and lifted others and also a statement on the kind of city we are and aspire to be: inclusive and proud of all who call Liverpool home.” saving many people from drowning in the Mersey and teaching so many others to swim so they could save themselves “As someone who is synonymous with courage and really embracing unity in his support of his local community we felt James was the perfect subject for this mural in Athol Village” “We are truly honoured and deeply grateful to see a mural created in his memory His story is one of strength and perseverance where immigration is often spoken about negatively his life shows the true impact of those who come here His journey is a powerful reminder that no matter the obstacles determination and kindness can make a real difference.” “James Clarke was a new name to me when this project arose I started researching him and found out all the amazing things he did in his life; so much legacy to leave behind for his family to look back upon and for others to learn about “This truly was a special project to be involved in Riverside and of course the Clarke family for allowing me to be part of it.” Image: (L-R) Laura Lippet (Housing Services Manager Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Richard Kemp CBE and Carl Murphy (Member of James Clarke’s wife family) Liverpool City Council has developed a strategic Highways Planned Works Framework to procure high-quality highways services from a selection of approved suppliers The framework agreement will operate as a multi-supplier contract enabling the City Council to establish long-term partnerships with vetted contractors The approved suppliers will be categorised into two lots This structure will streamline the procurement process for planned highways works such as highways infrastructure improvements and re-surfacing active travel schemes and sustainable transport provision traffic signal junctions and infrastructure The framework will eliminate the need for lengthy tender procedures for each project The successful suppliers selected for the framework are: Liverpool City Council is undertaking a significant program to upgrade and modernise Liverpool’s highways network supported by substantial financial investment The Council’s City Plan and 2023 Transport Plan emphasise accessibility The Highways Planned Works Framework will support the delivery of projects that align with these objectives supporting the Council’s vision for a future where walking and cycling are prioritised Extensive market engagement has been conducted since June 2024 to inform potential suppliers of Liverpool’s infrastructure plans and gather feedback on the framework’s structure The Highways Investment Programme has already delivered significant improvements across the city the initiative has seen the resurfacing of over 100,000 square meters of roads creating smoother and safer journeys for drivers more than 100 new tactile crossings have been installed enhancing accessibility for pedestrians with visual impairments and a number of private businesses as well as hundreds of homes will see work commence next week on a significant upgrade Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity “Maintaining the quality of our highways is essential to ensure the continuing growth and success of our city “We need our roads to be safe for all drivers and fit for purpose – helping people and businesses get from A to B “The creation of this framework is a hugely important step for the maintenance of the city’s roads and streets “Having a pool of pre-approved companies means we can get work started and finished quicker than we have in the past and it will make a positive difference to the city’s infrastructure in the years ahead.” ION Developments and Wirral Council have appointed John Sisk to carry out site remediation and infrastructure works for a major new urban village set to be built next to Birkenhead town centre The firm has signed a pre-construction agreement to carry out site investigations and remediation work at the former gas works to deliver development parcels ready for the first phase to begin in 2027 Last month councillors backed plans for the Hind Street Urban Village Project granting outline consent for the new neighbourhood of up to 1,600 new homes a new park along the old Dock Branch railway line and other commercial and community facilities The Council has secured £52m from Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for remediation and infrastructure works Initial preparatory works and the main contract to address the remediation and provide the new infrastructure will take up to two years The project is being delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with developers ION Property Developments with Ion managing the delivery of the remediation and infrastructure works on the Council’s behalf ION will then take the lead on delivering the housing with 633 new homes being delivered on the remediated site over the next few years the project will then focus on the northern part of the site to deliver further housing and commence the process of demolishing the flyovers which separate the site from Birkenhead town centre Leader of Wirral Council said: “Hind Street has been a project on the horizon for a long time and it’s a street name that has become synonymous with the huge amount of ambition we’ve always had for this development “Now that the clearance work has started the sheer size and scale of this opportunity is obvious to see – it’s a catalyst site that will completely transform the area It also shows our ability to work with partners to deliver a large and complex development said: “We are delighted to be working with Wirral Borough Council and ION Developments  on the initial phases for the Hind Street Urban Village Project we will be carrying out site investigation works within the gas works and Hind Street as we assist our design partners for the remediation and enabling works packages.” Wirral has given planning permission to proposals to transform 65 acres of former gas works into a residential community Planning approval for the 1,500-home project is the latest hurdle cleared by Ion Property Developments which secured £51m of funding for infrastructure – including the creation of Dock Branch Park – last year The funding came from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England as part of a wider strategic partnership between the organisations With funding and planning approval secured work on the first phase could begin later this year Phase one of Hind Street would see 633 homes and 14,000 sq ft of commercial space developed across 27 acres off Borough Road The second phase at the north of the site will comprise additional homes and the eventual demolition of the Mersey Tunnel flyovers the development will provide almost 650,000 sq ft of commercial space across the 65-acre development said: “We are pleased that the application has passed this next stage of agreement and this is another crucial step forward for our exciting plans for Hind Street “This is a complex project and we are grateful to the Council’s planning team for the diligent and proactive way they have approached it to date “We now look forward to beginning remediation of the site and implementing key infrastructure works on the first phase to the south of Hind Street later this year.” BDP is the architect and masterplanner for the project search for reference number OUT/23/01259 on Wirral Council’s planning portal Leader of Wirral Council said: “Hind Street is a key element of our ambitious regeneration programme in this case unlocking a brownfield site which has remained empty for many years to deliver much needed new homes “We are totally committed to changing this part of Birkenhead for the benefit of local communities and our plans for regeneration go beyond just building – we are focussed on boosting Wirral’s economy in the long term creating employment opportunities and improving the health and wellbeing of those individuals and families who are making their homes and lives in our borough.” said: “The Hind Street project is a perfect example of Homes England’s mission in action to support local and combined authority partners in bringing brownfield sites back to life by building new homes and creating thriving places “We’re encouraged to see progress being made on the project planning approval is an important step in any regeneration project and this significant milestone enables Wirral Council and partners to begin the work of preparing the site before the creation of new homes green space and leisure facilities can start “We look forward to seeing the project begin to take shape and the council’s ambitious plans for the regeneration of Birkenhead come to life.” Liverpool corporation built many really good council houses in the first half of the twentieth century with their ‘direct works’ The last seventy years have been a bit hit and miss.Now their is an opportunity to build quality affordable houses for families Key to this will be the removal of the flyovers and the work around Central Station Steve Parry and team for staying the course on this one if the real successes is when we see local universities and colleges with an increased uptake of new students as a result of the new jobs the design and construction teams of these wonderful plans will create How many of these houses are going to be affordable to rent ?Are they going to be social housing given the current situation with families living in hostels,homelessness and living in sub standard accommodation everything is so slow and for me the developer is hit and miss was four at the start of World War II and ten years old at the end of the war Bob lived in Ketley in Shropshire with his mum Robert; and five siblings – two older sisters called Hilda and Glenys Bob remembers many children having to go into the Anderson air raid shelters; and his dad and Uncle Bert going to fight in the war Uncle Bert was captured as a prisoner of war in Japan and would share stories with Bob Bob and his family celebrated by joining in the community street parties Bob later joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18 in 1953 progressing to become a Senior Aircraftsman which makes him very proud Bob first started at RAF High Ercall where he stayed whilst he had his first two children and was then asked if he could be posted and stationed in Egypt as his wife Margaret was pregnant at the time and they had two young children they decided to stay which led to Bob being transferred to RAF Lichfield and later settled at RAF Sealand After Bob stopped working as a Senior Aircraftsman in 1958 he remained working for the RAF as a civilian and worked on a number of projects including the ‘Green Goddess’ the nickname given to the British military fire engines When Bob and Margaret first started courting Bob rode his bike to go and visit her on a daily basis at Christ Church in Wellington and they’ve been married for 69 years Bob and Margaret have four children called Susan and Andrew; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren Bob moved into Leighton Court in April 2024 and was the first resident to move into the home’s new dementia community Bob is looking forward to celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day by watching some memorial shows on TV and enjoying Leighton Court’s afternoon tea party to celebrate VE Day celebrations as part of a reminiscing afternoon “The war was always in the back of your mind but you learnt to carry on and appreciate everything VE Day was a moment of pure joy and relief – we sang danced and for the first time in years felt hope again We will never forget the sacrifices that brought us peace.” class=”has-medium-font-size”> Following the submission of plans for its debut scheme in Stockport last month the developer has partnered with Ion Developments to bring forward the Hind Street masterplan headed up by Shannon Conway and Mike Nicholson has formed a strategic partnership with Ion for 65-acre Birkenhead project Ion will be the developer and Picture This will advise on design said joining forces with Picture This aligned with his vision for the site “Picture This brings extensive residential experience to support us at Hind Street place making and user engagement will complement our ambition to deliver a multi-generational “We recognise the Picture This approach could be a perfect addition to other projects bringing added value to mixed use developments.” The scheme secured planning approval in January having already bagged £51m of funding for infrastructure – including the creation of Dock Branch Park – from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England last year Phase one of Hind Street is expected to be underway by summer and will include remediation of the former gas works and 14,000 sq ft of commercial space developed said: “We are excited to be able to support Ion in the delivery of the Hind Street project which presents an exciting opportunity to deliver an exemplar residential village with strong environmental and social credentials “We’re excited to be supporting Ion as they enter the next stage of bringing this new neighbourhood to life and we look forward to growing our partnership.” Looking forward to what the next 12 months brings Some very positive news which will create lots of viable new homes on brownfield We just need to get the local plan adopted asap so Wirral can crack on with creating its major regeneration of the Left Bank Really do hope that the housing designs are attractive looking townhouses and apartments shoeboxes with front and back gardens which we have seen blight Birkenhead for decades now Delivering desperately needed homes for Wirral A great partner and finally things are starting to take place Are these 633 homes just for buying or will some be used for social housing,which the wirral is definitely very short of at this present time Completion is expected towards the end of 2025 Freshly armed with a £50m funding slug from Pension Insurance Corporation Peel Ports has appointed the contractor for a 159,000 sq ft quayside warehouse at Grandidges Quay the new UK HQ of specialist wood manufacturer Finsa UK Glencar will be main contractor for the design and build of the facility which will combine a 158,904 sq ft warehouse with a 5,000 sq ft timber-framed office for returning client Peel Ports Procurement was initially started in 2022 for the project The appointment builds on an existing relationship: Glencar last year delivered a £25m 237,000 sq ft facility at Alexandra Dock within Peel’s Port of Liverpool complex The Birkenhead building will become the new UK headquarters for Finsa UK consolidating operations as the firm looks to deliver its own growth strategy Glencar said that the development integrates photovoltaic panels The project sits within West Float, part of the Wirral Waters masterplan. Chetwoods is the architect, and Hydrock the structural engineer. The scheme was unveiled in summer 2022 with the contractor search initially being launched later that year said: “This project represents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the transformative Wirral Waters regeneration scheme while showcasing our commitment to sustainability “We are thrilled to be working with Peel Ports again and look forward to delivering a facility that supports Finsa UK’s growth while leaving a legacy in Birkenhead that extends far beyond construction.” group property development director at Peel Ports added: “Finsa UK has been a valued customer of Peel Ports for more than three decades and we are delighted to see the next phase of their growth come to life with this transformative project at Grandidges Quay “We are excited to be collaborating once again with Glencar whose expertise and commitment to excellence make them the ideal partner to deliver this high-specification logistics facility.” The Glencar announcement comes as Peel Ports welcomes £50m in financing from Pension Insurance Corporation an injection that takes PIC’s total investment in the business to £83m PIC said that its ability to offer a twelve-year financing solution will provide the company with the additional flexibility needed to fund large infrastructure investments Peel Ports has a range of projects on the books including jobs at the Port of Greenock and in Medway long-term cashflows are a good match for PIC’s pension payments stretching out decades into the future We are delighted to be able to support Peel Ports and complete an additional financing that meets their treasury needs.” We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Plans to kick-start the regeneration of a former gasworks in Birkenhead has moved a step closer thanks to funding approval from Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority a major transformation project on the Wirral will see derelict land around Hind Street turned into a new community of over 1,500 homes The government’s housing and regeneration agency has today agreed a £29 million investment in the project following a £22 million commitment from the Combined Authority This investment will fund vital infrastructure works needed to unlock the site and deliver the first 633 homes The funding approval for Hind Street follows hot on the heels of the establishment of a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) between Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority The SPP model is one of the ways Homes England is advancing locally led housing growth and regeneration Designed to support regions with the most ambitious proposals for housing growth centred around a shared plan for bringing those proposals forward This is really exciting news which marks a significant milestone in our mission to regenerate Birkenhead and the wider Wirral Through our Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England we’re accelerating transformational projects like Hind Street sustainable communities that our region deserves alongside improved transport links and green spaces this project will serve as a blueprint for the type of regeneration we want to see across the Liverpool City Region—regeneration that not only delivers homes but creates jobs we can unlock opportunities and remove the barriers holding our region back By delivering key infrastructure and attracting investment we’re ensuring that local people benefit directly from the improvements making this a place where everyone has the chance to thrive The Strategic Place Partnership model gives us a framework to support local leaders who have a strong vision for housing and regeneration in their area The Liverpool City Region is undoubtedly an area with huge potential for growth and is somewhere the government has already shown commitment to The funding approved today for Hind Street Urban Village is further evidence of our support for the region and aligns with our mission to work together with the mayor and his team to develop a pipeline of housing and regeneration development and help the Combined Authority unlock the region’s full potential Building on the collaborative work evidenced with the Hind Street funding as well as ongoing collaboration with Liverpool City Council at Festival Gardens the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the parties will enhance and expand efforts to improve strategic placemaking through increasing the pace scale and quality of housing delivery in the Liverpool City Region The funding agreed today will be used to unlock the Hind Street site and remove complex barriers to its development including moving Birkenhead’s gas supply to a new The former Rock Ferry to Bidston Dock railway line will also be brought back to life as Dock Branch Park thought to be one of the oldest stretches of track in the world has been closed since the early 1990s but will be given back to the community and transformed into a ‘linear’ park providing walking and cycling routes and connecting people to local transport links The project is being delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with developers Ion who have been commissioned to undertake Development Management services including the design of the scheme the remediation and infrastructure works required and the submission of the planning application it is expected to start on site in 2025 and complete in 2027 This additional funding from Homes England along with support from the Combined Authority will really help to accelerate our plans to change this part of Birkenhead for the benefit of local communities I’m pleased our ambitious ideas to transform this key area have this backing enabling us to get started bringing along new homes public spaces and better-connected living for our residents Our regeneration strategy looks beyond changes to the built environment to see that in the long term creates employment opportunities and improves the health and wellbeing of those individuals and families who are making their homes and lives in our borough Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Police were outside the Mulan Malaysian Restaurant in Birkenhead after a person showed up with serious injuries New Zealand Herald photograph by Hayden Woodward Emergency services have rushed to a crowded Auckland restaurant tonight after an injured man walked in claiming he had been stabbed The incident occurred shortly after 8pm at Mulan Malaysian Restaurant in Birkenhead on Auckland’s North Shore A police spokesperson confirmed a person turned up at a commercial premises with an injury this evening “They were being taken to Auckland Hospital and police were working to follow up to determine what happened,” the police spokesperson said A St John spokesperson said crews were called to the incident around about 9pm and sent one ambulance and one rapid response vehicle A witness told the Herald she and her family had been eating dinner at the restaurant when a man came in and sat at the front “Where he came in was the bar area which is quite separate Because I was with kids and they started to talk about someone being stabbed I thought I better go because it would freak them out there were quite a few police and quite a few ambulances “Apparently he just walked in and said he got stabbed.” The restaurant’s owner told the Herald the injured man told staff he had been stabbed and started to show them the wound The whole thing happened within 20 minutes.” The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night The closure of Birkenhead Town Hall is one of the many options presented as part of millions of pounds of savings put forward in Wirral Council’s budget for day-to-day services from April According to documents prepared for a Policy and Resources committee on 19 February closure would only save £100,000 to help close a £34m budget gap The future of the building has been in doubt for a while after Wirral Council reviewed both of its town halls including considering the option of selling the town halls in both Birkenhead and Wallasey the local authority started the process of moving services out of the building into Wallasey Town Hall However the building’s historic and listed status still means millions of pounds need to be spent on the building to maintain it Concerns have also been raised closing the building could cost the council more in the long run as turning heating off could fuel damp and mould problems According to a report presented to councillors in November the town hall is expected to need over £9.5m of work to be done on the building over 15 years even if it stays closed though this could be higher as it doesn’t include costs for preparing the building for other uses in the future £12m in repair costs may also be needed for Wallasey Town Hall over the same period there was a feeling of disappointment with people describing the plan as sad and terrible amid a sense that more and more things were moving outside of the Woodside area One business said it was concerned that closure could see a drop in footfall because people would no longer be visiting the town hall Alison Rubin said she would hate the building being closed “The town hall is a piece of our history and a piece of Hamilton Square Architecturally it’s gorgeous and there’s nothing better than walking outside and seeing couples getting married and seeing that love.” why are you going to take away our beautiful town hall If you want to make the Wirral a destination said it was a big attraction in the area and worried if it closed “they will leave it to go derelict like every other building.” She told the LDRS The one in Wallasey should be closing because this one is popular In the summer you get everyone sitting on the grass and they are closing that lovely building.” “It’s the main part of the square so if it gets shut “We are just getting less and less things in Birkenhead It would be a backwards step for this area It’s been part of Birkenhead for such a long time.” a heritage campaigner in the Hamilton Square Conservation Area believes there’s an opportunity the building could be transferred into community hands similar to what has happened with some libraries given the building’s popularity as a wedding venue and help secure the building for the future However he said the council would need to engage with community groups to make it happen “My main concern is will the council be able to afford to maintain the building It has a legal duty to maintain the building,” adding “It’s just going to cost the council a few million pounds just to keep it in a proper state If you are spending that amount of money on a building you are getting no return for “The loss of that building would be catastrophic for Birkonians It’s a symbol of Birkenhead’s coming of age,” adding “It’s still something that connects us with our history Wirral Council was approached for comment about the cost of managing the building while closed and what interest it had had from other organisations to take over the town hall Part of the waterfront proposals include honouring Birkenhead's historic tram system and an events space are all elements of Wirral Council’s latest ambitions for the town’s waterfront The local authority has launched another round of consultations for each of the three proposals following initial feedback exercises last year The goal is to present masterplans for the central district and St Werburgh’s zone to committee in early 2025 Detailed design work for the waterfront would be commissioned next month with consultation feedback influencing the designs A formal consultation on those proposals would be held next spring “This is another major step forward in our plans to revitalise the town centre and breathe new life into its business and retail spaces,” said Cllr Tony Jones “I hope people take the opportunity to look at the proposals and see how we have incorporated comments and suggestions received in earlier rounds of consultation and engagement.” Wirral Council is working with Sisk and Pell Frischmann on this strategy which looks to improve connections and increase footfall between Birkenhead town centre and Woodside waterfront The area focussed on includes Argyle Street The plans would create an events space next to the Woodside Ferry Terminal and give the arrival space at Hamilton Square Station a facelift. The proposals would also be geared towards making a showcase of the future Battle of the Atlantic Museum which recently received planning permission (and nearly £20m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund) Funds for the waterfront revamp come from the Towns Fund and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s active travel funding pot The consultation ends on 4 November. You can access it at haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/birkenhead-waterfront-and-surrounds-phase-2 A unified Birkenhead Central district could have 1,685 homes according to the masterplan.Credit: via Wirral Council Wirral Council is working with BDP and Aspinall Verdi The goal is to turn the Grange Road Retail Area and Charing Cross Quarter into a unified district The designs are meant to enable the delivery of 1,685 homes There would also be improvements made to the public realm as part of the scheme The consultation ends on 29 November. You can access it at haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/birkenhead-central-phase-2 BDP is working with Wirral Council on the St Werburgh’s masterplan This is actually the third phase of consultation for St Werburgh’s area which sits adjacent to the Birkenhead Central masterplan Wirral Council is working with BDP and Aspinall Verdi on this masterplan The goal is for St Werburgh’s to become a mixed-use neighbourhood where creativity thrives. To deliver on this vision, the framework would enable the delivery of 570 homes, a hotel, a revised market, and a new market square. The market was the subject of its own separate consultation exercise last month The St Werburgh’s area would be linked to Hind Street as well – itself the subject of a £51m regeneration scheme supported by Homes England and the combined authority The consultation concludes on 29 November. You can access it at haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/st-werburgh-s-masterplan-phase-3 Wirral Council – this is more like it The St Werburghs proposals remind me of the neighbourhood in Bilbao near the Transporter Bridge with streets and mid-rise blocks was expecting more at Woodside and envisaged some high-rise on the waterfront with residents in walking distance of the ferry commute The land outside Woodside ferry Station needs a ‘lighthouse’ building to attract the necessary footfall required to visit the area and models to display their ludicrous vanity projects They waste so much on these images that are of no benefit to anyone There is no consideration given to the opinions of residents of the East of the area The people who are doing their shopping in the miserable did not want to have the market run down and destroyed they didn’t want to have the trees in Grange Road felled Those are two examples of reckless disregard of the local people @ Thelma 12.02am,it’s precisely because Birkenhead was becoming miserable and depleted that it needed a massive re-think and injection of optimism and repopulation Shops and town centres survive better with high density housing nearby and not the suburban type housing that mainly exists there now which is not an effective use of valuable land The market itself was not attracting the footfall because it was outdated selling cheap goods that really can be purchased anywhere and therefore not really making the market a go-to This is the kickstart that Birkenhead needs Well done Wirral for getting on with regeneration on the east side and avoiding the need for GB development This should be an inspiration for other met districts This is a lovely masterplan – but where is the occupier demand Economies are based on those who fill the buildings Wirral and LCR need to up their inward investment game – disappointing tenants/occupiers aren’t even referenced here Inward investment into the LCR is terrible Need a bit less rhetoric and more tangible results from the Growth Platform The City Visitor Charge will haul in an estimated £9.2m over the next two years The council wants to appoint a multidisciplinary team to draw up a place strategy for the town aimed at harnessing “the power of Southport’s strengths” Cornneliu Mihai Magureanu from Birkenhead was sentenced for his involvement in violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday The 20-year-old was captured on CCTV watching a crowd of people throw missiles at police officers He threw a rock at the police line and shouted towards the officers was sentenced to 18 months at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty Another man was also sentenced on 20 March Kevin Clark travelled from Wigan to Southport to take part in violent disorder on Tuesday 30 July last year displayed shocking behaviour for their involvement in causing violent disorder on Merseyside last summer Clark’s violent behaviour resulted in the victim requiring surgery to his ankle physiotherapy and has been left with scars Clark was not satisfied in taking one officer out he moved on to another police line and continued his aggressive behaviour attacking them with bricks “We continue to identify people and are relentless in pursuing those who took part and brought disgrace to the region “We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.”  The total of people arrested by Merseyside Police has now reached 184 with 146 charged and 124 people sentenced to a combined 228 years and eight months in prison so far The latest galleries of people police would like to speak to can be found on the Merseyside Police websitehttps://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/november/latest-cctv-appeal-following-disorder-in-merseyside-during-the-summer/ Image: Cornneliu Mihai Magureanu/Merseyside Police contractor Seddon is inviting local businesses to apply for contracts to support the delivery of the project.  Seddon is hosting a drop in event on Tuesday between 1 and 3pm at Egerton House in Birkenhead giving local companies the opportunity to learn more about the contracts available as construction on the new market gets underway Packages available to bid for will include a wide range of work taking place across the project As well as providing details of available contracts the event will also offer advice and support to those in Wirral’s construction supply chain on the relevant approvals and accreditations required to be able to apply for tenders and overarching business development support.  which was appointed last month to carry out pre-construction services to move forward the refurbishment of the unit at 1 Princes Pavement next to the bus station and provide a new Market Hall for Birkenhead “This event is a great opportunity for local businesses to find out how they can be part of delivering Birkenhead’s new market – a flagship project that underlines our commitment to revitalising the town and making it a prosperous place to live and work “Ensuring that local companies benefit from the funds being invested into Wirral is a key part of our people-focused regeneration strategy helping that investment stay within the local economy creating new jobs and upskilling our workers it’s also about building new opportunities and driving growth for Wirral’s residents.” Operations Manager for Seddon Property Services said “We’re delighted to have been appointed as the principal contractor for the new Birkenhead Market project Our aim is to deliver the project with as much support from local suppliers as possible which is why this event is key to our plan “We want to work with local contractors and ensure that investment in the scheme stays within the local economy the Wirral Chamber and The Growth Hub at the event means we can offer training and upskilling opportunities to help local businesses get ready to be part of the region’s growth.” The pre-construction phase of the new market is currently underway with the final designs currently being worked on following engagement with the public and traders The target delivery programme indicates a practical completion date for the main base build works of March 2026.s The supply chain event takes place on Tuesday To register your attendance, please sign up here: Meet the Buyer Event: Seddon Tickets, Tue, May 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite the eight-year-old took his record to 4-8 at the track when scoring by a length from Hurt You Never It was his 11th overall win from 75 career outings and Midgley was thrilled to get his head back in front for the first time this year "He really loves it there and saves his best for the track," he said "We've had him a few seasons now and he's been great He's a fantastic little horse who pays his way and he's one of them who just loves life and is easy to train If they're sound they keep giving and they keep lasting; if they're not then they don't do that." but Midgley was still shocked to see him sent off at 18-1 given his track record but I thought he was that price because of his draw in stall ten," he said we made the plan to go down the middle of the track and he was always in control." Military Girl made it two wins from five starts for Michael Dods when striking in the 5f handicap the three-year-old daughter of Soldier's Call held off the challenge from Lucius Aurelius to follow up her course-and-distance victory from last year Ed Walker fired in his third successive victory when Troia returned to winning ways in the 7f novice Published on 23 April 2025inReports Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors