Wirral to study impact of Peel scheme on Birkenhead

Wirral council is inviting consultants to pitch for an 'integrated regeneration study' to understand plans for Peel's Wirral Waters in relation to Birkenhead.

The work will 'establish a spatial framework which aligns regeneration strategies and programmes to provide a clear, comprehensive single vision and story about the place of Birkenhead and its surrounding regeneration areas', the tender brief said.

If delivered, Wirral Waters, which has yet to gain planning consent, would see 16m sq ft of mixed-use space created on 500 acres of derelict dockland north of Birkenhead town centre.

Critics of Wirral Waters believe it will effectively mean the end of Birkenhead as a serious town centre. The council is already based in Wallasey, while Birkenhead has seen its main library close and central retail area remain largely untouched as other rival towns have been regenerated.

Consultants are expected to be appointed in June 2009 and a final report published in December.

Deadline for PQQ entrants is 12 noon on Friday 8 May.