WIRRAL Council’s £73m investment plan for Birkenhead and New Ferry has been approved by the UK Government.

The investment plan outlined how the local authority will use the money across 23 projects in Birkenhead going forward with a need for all the money to be spent by March 2026.

Its approval by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will allow the council to take part in a government trial that will see it given greater control over how it spends the £73.5m. However, the local authority is also proposing a new partnership with the government and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to oversee all its regeneration projects.

The investment plan includes Birkenhead Market’s future, with public money spent on demolishing the former House of Fraser on Grange Road, cover increased costs for a new substation, and demolishing the existing market in the Grange Precinct. £6m has been reallocated to refurbish a former Argos and move the market in there, though the local authority is also considering two other options.

Other projects, include regenerating the area around Woodside Ferry terminal, including the U-boat museum, a new wellbeing hub run by the Open Door Charity, a new music skills venue run by Future Yard, and major changes to Europa Boulevard.

Despite recent changes of plans around several projects and the council dropping its plans to build a brand new Birkenhead Market on the former House of Fraser, Wirral Council leader Paul Stuart, said investors still had confidence in its ability to deliver.

On the investment plan, Cllr Stuart, said: “This is fantastic news and demonstrates that Wirral is on the right track with our delivery of a genuinely transformative regeneration programme.

“It is also good to see that DLUHC has recognised the hard work, skill, and expertise of our council regeneration team working on these projects, and as a result, have given us greater freedom to make decisions locally on the best use of these grants.

“Work is already progressing in so many areas, from the Birkenhead Commercial District and Wirral Waters, and there will be even more spades in the ground throughout 2024 as more schemes move ahead at pace.

“I do not doubt that the coming years will see the face of Wirral changing dramatically for the better, and regeneration which delivers for communities, bringing greater opportunity for our residents and businesses, making Wirral an even better place to live, work and raise their families.”

An upcoming Policy and Resources committee report said the council is also looking to set up a new partnership with the Homes England as well as the Liverpool City Region which will enable Wirral “to speak with one voice.” The partnership will focus on ensuring housing and commercial developments move ahead, positive social outcomes are delivered, and look to attract investors in the private and public sectors.

The council will still be the responsible organisation for the more than £100m in public funds it’s received to deliver regeneration in Birkenhead and other parts of the Wirral. The partnership will hope to limit the risk funds will have to be handed back if projects fail and oversee how regeneration is delivered in each project.

According to the December 13 council report, “the proposals within the report would also enable better management of financial delivery to reduce risk of cost overrun,” and “would also enable better oversight of procurement and project management to reduce risk of programme slippage.”

The proposed partnership will oversee various large scale projects including the Dock Brand neighbourhood with 1,200 homes, Cleveland Street with over 1,000 homes, the Hind Street Urban Village with 1,600 homes, Wirral Waters, and Scotts Quay with 3,500 homes on the Seacombe waterfront.