Peel’s Wirral Waters scheme awaits decision

Wirral Council's planning committee is meeting to debate and decide on Peel Holdings' 15m sq ft of mixed-use development on redundant dockland.

Peel submitted the largest planning application in the UK for East Float, the main part of its Wirral Waters scheme, in December last year.

The project would require investment of £4.5bn to build out and proposes to deliver offices capable of supporting 20,000 jobs, as well as 13,000 homes, leisure and culture facilities.

The scale and regional significance of the application mean it is likely to be called in for a public inquiry even if Wirral Council approves the plans. Major property owners in Birkenhead town centre such as Warner Estate Holdings, owner of the Grange and Pyramids shopping centres, are expected to object to Peel's proposals.

The final public consultation on Wirral Waters scheme took place last Thursday 29 July.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, HKR, Skidmore Owings Merrill, and Glenn Howells, are the architects working on Wirral Waters.

Peel also plans a similarly ambitious scheme on the other side of the Mersey from Wirral Waters, known as Liverpool Waters, but has not yet submitted an application for the project.

A Chinese firm of architects was interested in investing in one of the first buildings in Peel's Liverpool Waters scheme after discussions at the World Expo in Shanghai. Peel is the main sponsor of the Liverpool Pavilion at the event.

Peel's Wirral Waters plans will go before the planning committee at 6pm on Tuesday 3 August at Wallasey Town Hall.