'Manhattan on the Mersey' plans

Some of the skyscrapers would be 50 storeys high

Ambitious plans to transform Merseyside docklands into an "waterside destination" rivalling Shanghai and New York have gone on display.

The £4.5bn Wirral Waters plan is the idea of owners Peel Holdings and aims to redevelop East Float and Bidston Moss docks with shops and skyscrapers.

It is hoped the scheme would attract tourists, jobs and further investment.

Plans include a marina, apartments, a leisure complex and an architectural skyline to "rival Manhattan".

If the scheme gets the go-ahead it would see more than 500 acres of brownfield site redeveloped.

Proposals include a new 571,000 sq ft retail park at Bidston Moss.

East Float and Vittoria Dock areas could have an "architectural skyline" with 50-storey skyscrapers.

'Massive boost'

About 15,000 new houses and apartments for up to 25,000 people could be built with bars, shops and restaurants.

Lindsey Ashworth, Development Director of Peel said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to transform this area of Wirral into a development of world class status creating great new places to live, work and relax.

"The development would create more than 27,000 permanent new jobs with tens of thousands of additional construction jobs and indirect jobs, bringing a massive boost to an area.

"An outline planning application will be submitted next year. The total development will be phased over a period of approximately 30 years, such is the enormity of this proposal."

Plans are on display in Birkenhead market on Friday and Saturday.