Wirral university plans move closer

Oct 14 2009 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL is the only area in the north of England to move through to the next stage of developing a new university.

Only six locations in England have been chosen to press ahead with plans for the new higher education sites.

In Wirral, it is expected to be part of the proposed £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme.

Partnerships interested in developing a higher education centre or new university campus were asked to make their proposals under the Government’s new “University Challenge” scheme.

Wirral Council, working with the University of Chester, put forward plans for a “new multi-million-pound Wirral Learning Zone”, which would form part of Peel Developments’ Wirral Waters plan for Birkenhead.

The Government approved six which could be developed further. These are Somerset, Crawley, Milton Keynes, Swindon, Thurrock and Wirral.

Professor Tim Wheeler, the University of Chester’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “Although its progress will be subject to funding being available, this proposal clearly represents a significant opportunity for the Wirral.”