2021 has been nothing short of transformational at Wirral Waters, with great progress being made on site. Transforming former brownfield sites into sustainable waterside neighbourhoods, providing green open spaces, encouraging natural biodiversity and creating spaces for residents, business and visitors to enjoy.
Substantial investment to the infrastructure and public realm on Tower Road was delivered early in 2021. Meaning visitors to Wirral Waters can now take a stroll or cycle along the newly refurbished Tower Road where the pavements have been widened to create new walking and cycling routes, lined by 130 native trees and connecting Wirral Waters to other parts of the Wirral Peninsula.
Plans to regenerate and redevelop the iconic Grade II listed Hydraulic Tower into the Maritime Knowledge Hub caught the attention of some very important and influential figures in 2021 with visits from Maritime Minister, Robert Courts MP, and patron of Maritime UK, HRH The Princess Royal.
The future base for marine engineering research and development was also one of the key industrial venues for the AND Festival during the summer of 2021. The festival was a 7-week programme of site-specific installations and events, presented on and along the industrial waterways of the Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey.
Throughout the year the partnership between Wirral Met College construction students continued as they work across a range of Wirral Waters projects to gain practical experience in development construction, including the Tower Road public realm improvements and learning opportunities in the construction of Hythe. Additionally supporting the colleges classroom learn with a series of educational events.
The emerging Northbank neighbourhood, where East Float Urban Splash’s new Row House became the first homes to arrive on site in the autumn. The distinct and brightly coloured modular homes are surrounded by brand new public realm infrastructure, including pocket parks, green spaces and dockside walkways.
Developer Peel L&P’s ambition to make Wirral Waters the most cyclist and pedestrian friendly development in the UK, took a significant step forward in 2021 with the launch of its Active Travel Action Plan. The plan sets out how it will deliver a ‘step change’ in the quality and connectivity of neighbourhoods, greenways and blueways for the Liverpool City Region by placing walking, cycling and micromobility at the heart of a Net Zero Carbon movement network.
To round out the year the impressive and high-tech Hythe business hub, Birkenhead’s first office development in more than a decade, completed in December 2021 and is now ready to welcome it’s first occupants.
With more new homes along the Northbank neighbourhood, a new amenity hub and transformation of the grade II Hydraulic to be started, 2022 is already poised to be an exciting year. So watch this space!
