Plans submitted for Wirral Waters first phase

Peel Group has submitted a planning application to Wirral Council for the first development at its Wirral Waters scheme, a £5m teaching block for Wirral Metropolitan College.

The scheme in Tower Road South in Birkenhead is being developed in partnership with the College as part of Peel Group's £4.6bn Wirral Waters project. The development is being funded in part by a £2.5m loan from the Homes & Communities Agency, which was granted due to the site's location in an enterprise zone.

The new campus is planned to open by September 2015 and will be a dedicated built environment, skills and enterprise centre.

The first phase of the project will comprise the design and construction of a two-storey college building on a two-acre site next to the Hydraulic Tower in Tower Road. The scheme includes specialist workshops for brickwork and plaster; gas, plumbing and electrical; joinery; and painting and decorating, as well as the construction of ancillary accommodation.

The project is 90% funded through a £7.2m Government grant from a £194.3m funding round to colleges across the country.

The designs have been drawn up by architect Glenn Howells. The planning agent is Manchester-based Turley.

Peel launched the search for a contractor on the scheme in April. Zerum Consult is advising on the project.