First step in Wirral Waters’ development should take place next year

Jun 8 2011 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

THE FIRST concrete step in the development of Wirral Waters should be taken next year, after a planning application for Peels’ International Trade Centre was lodged.

Peel director, Lindsey Ashworth told the News there will be “£10bn on the doorstep of this trade centre”, if the proposal is accepted by Wirral Council’s planning committee.

The development would be entirely unique in the UK and could create more than 3,000 new jobs once complete.

As a concept the trade centre is well-established in China, and is aimed squarely at retailers and manufacturers.

Lindsey Ashworth said: “If you’ve got a corner shop and would like to sell products from overseas, you’re not going to go to China.

“Here, people can go in, touch the goods, feel the goods, get them ordered and sell them through their shops.”

The application has been submitted in outline for all phases.

It will comprise four separate multi-level buildings, totalling around 230,000 square metres of floor space.

If successful, it is anticipated the four buildings will be phased in over the next ten years with work starting on the first phase next year.

A Chinese partner has already been secured for this first step.

The centre should enable more than 1,000 companies from countries such as China, India, South Korea and other emerging economies to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK, Irish and European markets.

Lindsey Ashworth told the News: “I think it’s the first step for Wirral Waters.

“It’s always difficult to find something to start a derelict site, we had this with Salford Quays 20 years ago, we never knew what would come along.

“But if you look at Salford Quays now, the likes of the Imperial War Museum and Media City were never anticipated.

“You just live in hope that something will come along and be attracted to the site.

“Birkenhead Docks is no different to Salford Quays 20 years ago.”

Lindsey came up with the idea for the trade centre on one of many visits to China and says the Wirral proposal is “not short on demand”.

He said: “Everything we do compared to China is small.

“I went to a trade centre there which has 200,000 people a day going into it.

“The Trafford Centre has 38million visitors a year and this has three times that.”

And he says that international standards will be applied to the goods on show, ranging from electrical and technical items to kitchenware and furniture, DIY products, toys, sporting goods and other household items.

Lindsey said: “They’ve got to be high quality and competitive and they’ve got to satisfy certain standards.

“There’ll be no child labour.”

And while new Wirral Council leader Councillor Steve Foulkes did not want to pre-empt the planning process, he welcomed this next step in the fruition of Peel’s grand plans.

Cllr Foulkes said: “It is hopefully the first of many exciting ventures based at the site and has come to fruition because of the close international links that have been forged with China by both Peel and Wirral Council.”

Lindsey Ashworth added: “This project will bring other businesses because it’s known world wide that businesses cluster.

“If you put offices somewhere lots follow and this is the start.

“So it’s not just excitement at having a trade centre, when there isn’t one in the UK, it’s the fact it’s the start of other developments in the region.”

If successful, planning permission will be granted this autumn.