Mersey waterfront scheme agreed

The scheme aims to create a waterside destination to rival New York

Ambitious plans for the first phase of a redevelopment of a part of the Merseyside waterfront have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

The Northbank East plans form part of the Wirral Waters scheme and will transform derelict sites at the East and West Float Docks in Birkenhead.

The overall scheme is expected to create more than 27,000 jobs, thousands of homes, offices, shops and a marina.

A Wirral council spokeswoman said the plans provided a "unique opportunity".

Councillor Jean Stapleton, said the council had been working closely with developer Peel Holdings for three years on the project which will create about 1,000 jobs in the Northbank East aspect of the redevelopment.

"Wirral has a historic and influential past particularly with regards to its docklands and these proposals represent our chance to create a new, exciting future for the Borough and the Northwest region," the councillor added.

The scheme has been described as transforming the Merseyside docklands into a "waterside destination" to rival New York and Shanghai.

Northbank East forms just one part of overall regeneration plans for the docklands, which will take up to 30 years to complete.

It is situated between the converted corn warehouses and the hydraulic tower, near the former historic warships site.