West Kirby waterfront hotel could be halved in size

Dec 10 2008 by Sue McCann, Heswall News

CONTROVERSIAL plans to bring a luxury waterfront hotel to West Kirby are to be dramatically halved in size.

The project, centred on the hotel overlooking the marine lake, is expected to be significantly scaled back and developers given extra time to work on their scheme.

A confidential report to go to Wirral’s cabinet tonight says the hotel will be reduced from 80 to 40 bedrooms and recommends developers Carpenter Investments be given an extra three months to revise the scheme.

It centres around the hotel at the head of the marine lake, on the Dee Lane car park site, and includes a restaurant, bar, spa and conference facilities, together with retail outlets at ground floor level.

A new sailing school building will be on the footprint of the existing site, and will include an information centre for Hilbre Island, separate boat storage building and additional retail unit and café.

Alan Beer, of the development company behind the scheme, said they had revised their plans “in light of the consultation exercise”.

He said: “We have made some revisions, that was the whole point of the consultation exercise. We have carried out a very extensive consultation exercise, spoken to hundreds of people and distributed thousands of leaflets and we have really listened to what people are saying.”

Carpenter Investments had been granted exclusive rights to work up their proposals in more detail after winning a competition and signing a contract with Wirral Council last year.

The plans will be discussed at Wallasey Town Hall tonight behind closed doors.