NEW pictures show the former House of Fraser building in Birkenhead being demolished.
Wirral Council approved a demolition plan on the site to make way for its new £28m market as well as the new apartments. The local authority purchased the land on Grange Road as well as a car park off Argyle Street in December 2020 with both schemes are expected to be delivered by 2025.
The project contractor, Forshaw, began work on the Grange Road site, which includes a car park with 86 spaces and a rear service yard, on November 1, 2023.
READ: Demolition of former House of Fraser to start this week
A council statement read: "The site of the former House of Fraser is seen as key to enabling the comprehensive regeneration of Birkenhead town centre which is a strategic priority for the council.
"Before demolition starts there will be hoardings put in place around the building as well as the car park at the rear, which is where the site office will be located.
"The car park area will also be used for storage of equipment and welfare facilities.”
The work first saw the building stripped of internal fixtures and fittings before the structure itself began being demolished.
The contract was procured through the Wirral Growth Company and is expected to run for a total of 16 weeks with an expected completion date of early March 2024.
Details on what the housing scheme will look like have not been confirmed yet as a future developer partner will formalise the plans over the next year but the new flats will be built on the car park site according to a previously undisclosed Wirral Council report.
READ: Birkenhead's House of Fraser site to be demolished for flats and market
The report, now public after a regeneration committee meeting in March, said the new housing would “facilitate a high quality, mixed tenure development,” be distinctive, and provide “a safe, secure and pleasant environment; minimising opportunities for anti-social behaviour.”
The re-development of the House of Fraser site is part of the council’s plans to completely regenerate the town by 2040. This includes a massive new development proposed near Birkenhead Central station, Wirral Waters, a revamp of the waterfront, new office space, as well as a brand new park along an old railway line.
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