Waters submitted

Dec 16 2009 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

THE largest planning application in the UK, aimed at transforming Wallasey’s East Float dock into a mecca of business and culture, was submitted on Monday.

The ambitious scheme, piloted by Peel Holdings, plans to provide 1.4 million square metres of mixed use floor space and represents an investment in the peninsula of £4.5 billion.

If approved by Wirral Council’s Planning Committee – it should be discussed in spring – office and workshop accommodation to support more than 20,000 jobs in a broad range of commercial sectors will be catered for, as well as provision for 13,000 homes, alongside leisure and cultural facilities.

An estimated 4,000 construction jobs would be generated over the lifetime of the scheme.

Peel’s Lindsey Ashworth said: “This has been a massive, difficult and complex but exciting journey bringing this project together over the last three years to the point of submitting a planning application.

“It is Peel’s belief that Birkenhead Docks has huge potential.”

While Wirral Council leader Cllr Steve Foulkes said: “This is a significant step in our vision to regenerate Wirral.

“Importantly it is encouraging that even at a time of such economic difficulties we continue to make significant progress towards the delivery of our ambitious investment strategy.”