Wirral Waters scheme approved by council planners

Sep 28 2011 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A £200M international trade centre aiming to kick-start Wirral Waters and provide thousands of jobs has been approved by council planners.

All three parties on Wirral Council backed Peel’s scheme in Birkenhead and passed the plans for the scheme unanimously.

Peel director Lindsey Ashworth said that decision was important as they prepare to meet potential Chinese investors in the next few weeks. He said they hope to soon start decontaminating the land and added: “Hopefully we will start on site next year.”

It is hoped the Wirral Water International Trade Centre (ITC) will help attract investors to the even more ambitious £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme for the dockland area between Birkenhead and Wallasey.

Mr Ashworth said there is “massive interest in China” in the scheme, and the unanimous decision was key to showing potential investors Wirral Council backed the scheme.

He also said he believed they could be oversubscribed with potential investors.

The planning committee, meeting in Wallasey town hall, was told the 25 hectare site for the ITC would be developed in phases and could be delivered within two to three years of planning approval.