City's sister scheme to Wirral Waters project gets Government go-ahead (From Wirral Globe)
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City's sister scheme to Wirral Waters project gets Government go-ahead
1:07pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton
PROPOSALS to create the ambitious Liverpool Waters scheme in the city’s docklands has been given the go-ahead by the Government.
The project goes hand-in-hand with the Wirral Waters plan and both were granted ‘Enterprise Zone’ status last year.
Now communities secretary Eric Pickles has approved the £5.5bn Liverpool initiative and has decided there is no need for a public inquiry.
It means Peel Holdings and Liverpool City Council can now officially begin work on the plans which will develop over the next 30 years, creating more than 20,000 jobs.
As part of the proposals, 9,000 homes will be built as well as hundreds of offices, a cruise liner terminal, hotels and restaurants.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “This is fantastic news for Liverpool.
"I’m absolutely delighted the secretary of state shares the confidence we have in our ability to deliver this vitally important regeneration scheme, while protecting our architectural heritage.
“Today’s announcement marks the start of a new era for Liverpool, paving to way to us delivering a world class development which will transform a part of the city that has been in desperate need of investment for decades.”
The Government gave planning approval for the Wirral Waters regeneration plan in December 2010.
It will see the creation of around 27,000 new jobs over the next 30 years and the complete transformation of derelict "brownfield" land in Birkenhead Docks.
Commenting on the news that Peel Liverpool Waters planning application will not be called-in by the Secretary of State, Wirral West Member of Parliament Esther McVey said: "This is really good news and gives Peel some certainty.
"This scheme along with Wirral Waters and the International Trade Centre (ITC) will bring massive investment and jobs to not just Wirral and Liverpool but to the whole of the North West region.
"I was delighted to work with Eric Pickles to ensure there were no unnecessary delays to the Liverpool Waters project that could have impacted on Wirral Waters and the ITC."
