Contractor picked for £8.6m Woodside ferry project 

The redevelopment of the Wirral terminal forms part of a wider vision for the area. 

Warbreck Engineering and Construction is understood to have been appointed to carry out the upgrades, according to filings on Bidstats and Contract Finder Pro. Liverpool City Region declined to confirm the contractor.

The £8.6m project will see Liverpool-based Warbreck comprehensively modernise Woodside Ferry Terminal for the first time since it was built in 1985. 

The terminal is set to reopen from summer 2025 following complex engineering work to install a new landing stage and linkspan bridge. 

“The Woodside Ferry Terminal is almost 40 years old and in need of modernisation so we’re able to keep up with the needs of a growing and diverse population,” said Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool Combined Authority Transport Committee. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to improve the area for residents however, it’s also a prime time to start encouraging even more tourists to explore the other side of the water by bringing Mersey Ferries back to the area and restoring the service between Woodside and Pier Head, improving the transport links for residents and visitors alike.” 

While the upgrades to the terminal have been a long time coming, the project forms jst one part of Wirral Council’s plans for the wider Woodside area. 

The authority is currently consulting on plans to overhaul the area, with a vision for around 1,700 homes, two hotels, and a major tourist attraction all included within outline plans. 

Underpinned by £23m of government funding for improving public realm and enhancing connectivity between the waterfront and Birkenhead town centre, the Woodside masterplan forms part of Wirral Council’s concerted effort to regenerate the Left Bank area of the peninsula. 

The project will see improvements made to the space from Argyle Street/Conway Street roundabout down to the terminal and include improving the landscaping around the area.  

It also aims to create more accessible walking and cycling spaces and better connections between central Birkenhead and the waterfront. 

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “In addition to the [terminal] plans, which are to be delivered over the next couple of years, part of the process in drafting the masterplan has been to generate new ideas to be implemented in the longer term such as the extra-large floating pontoon or a historic ship in the dock as part of a visitor attraction.  

“The consultation, which is open now, is giving everyone to the chance to view these proposals and have their say and we’re encouraging everyone to take part.”