Public consultation set to start on Peel’s International Trade Centre in Wirral

Jul 13 2011 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

PLANS to build an International Trade Centre in Birkenhead’s docks will go on show to the public next month.

Wirral Waters developer Peel will hold an open day to gauge public opinion over the £200m scheme.

The company has claimed the ITC could boost Merseyside’s economy by up to £100m a year.

Last month, it submitted a planning application for the project, with Wirral Council leader Steve Foulkes saying it was “fantastic to see the Wirral Waters vision, as launched by Peel in 2006, becoming a reality”.

If approved by councillors, Peel believes the ITC will create 3,000 jobs and help kick-start Wirral Waters, the £4.5bn redevelopment of docks between Birkenhead and Wallasey.

The day of public consultation, organised to seek the views of residents and retail and commercial organisations, will be at Birkenhead market on Friday, August 5, from 10am to 4pm.

Representatives of Peel’s ITC team will attend to explain the project’s concept and benefits, and answer questions.

Leaflets and a questionnaire for those who attend to express their views will also be distributed.

An online consultation process is also under way on Peel’s ITC website at www.peelitc.co.uk

It provides information on the project, along with an online questionnaire and dedicated space where users can comment and contact members of the Peel team.

The International Trade Centre will be aimed at trade buyers who are looking for new goods and markets.

Peel says Merseyside businesses should benefit from using the ITC, but the general public will not be able to access the facility.

When all its phases are complete, more than 1,000 companies from countries such as China, India, South Korea and other emerging economies, as well as the UK, will be able to use the centre to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK, Irish and European markets.

The facility will be the first of its kind in the UK.

Peel director Lindsey Ashworth said “everybody wins” from the project.

He added: “All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high-quality products manufactured overseas, and residents will have the opportunity to apply for the new jobs which will be created.” Peel wants the ITC to provide a trading gateway into the UK domestic market, as well as to the whole of Europe, for foreign firms.

It will host electrical goods, technology, clothing and fashion, kitchenware, furniture, fixtures and fittings, DIY products, building materials, toys, garden products, sporting goods and household items.

In addition, it will have promotional and exhibition space, warehousing, storage and assembly facilities.

Peel said it hopes planning permission will be granted by the autumn.

If approved by councillors, planning documents suggest site preparation would begin in September and last a year, with the first of four planned units ready by May 2013.

Three other units could be built, with the entire scheme completed by 2019 if it goes according to Peel’s plans.