Wirral’s head of regen to depart
David Hughes will retire later this year after making his mark on the borough in 2023 by leading the purchase of a huge chunk of Birkenhead town centre.
Hughes joined Wirral Council as director of regeneration and place in early 2023 from Newham Council.
He was appointed to oversee the authority’s huge pipeline of projects, including to revitalisation of Birkenhead town centre.
Last May, the council acted quickly to snap up 585,000 sq ft of underperforming retail space in Birkenhead from Mars Pension Fund, paving the way for the town centre’s regeneration.
Speaking to Place North West at the time, Hughes outlined the importance of the acquisition.
“We had to move very quickly [because] if we don’t get control of that, and it gets sold to another fund who are passive and don’t invest, it could end up affecting the value of our existing assets.”
The news of Hughes’ departure comes as Wirral Council looks to make a number of modifications to its emerging local plan, which government inspectors recently deemed unsound.
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “Wirral Council’s director of regeneration and place, Dave Hughes has announced he plans to retire from his role leading the borough’s ambitious regeneration programme.
“During the last year he has led Wirral’s regeneration and place directorate as it has pushed forward with developing and preparing to deliver numerous multi-million pound regeneration schemes across the borough, including the purchase the Pyramids and Grange in Birkenhead to enable regeneration of the town centre and the Local Plan inspection hearings – a major milestone for the borough, and there are plenty of very exciting and advanced plans in the pipeline for Wirral.”
The spokesperson added: “Wirral’s regeneration plans are amongst the biggest in the country, and with a new senior regeneration team now in place, the council is now in a strong position to press ahead with its bold regeneration plans and deliver the ambitious regeneration it needs and deserves.”
A top bloke, but he’s put in place a very good team below him, so things look bright.
By Anonymous
I thought the team below him all left during his tenure?
By William Hesketh
The plan was found to be ‘capable of being made sound’. The inspectors accepted the regeneration first arguments, and there is no green belt release. A major victory for warral bc, councillors of all parties and the local communities. Well done! A model for other boroughs to follow.
By Peter