'Avenue' approach to Wirral Waters (From Wirral Globe)

'Avenue' approach to Wirral Waters

8:00am Saturday 14th July 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

HUNDREDS of trees are to be planted on green spaces and roads leading to the planned Wirral Waters development to create an environmentally friendly approach to the £4.5bn docklands venture.

Peel Developments' Wirral Waters proposal – which has been given the green light by the government - will create more than 20,000 jobs in a broad range of commercial sectors; more than 13,000 homes; office and workshop accommodation and extensive leisure and cultural facilities over a 30 to 40-year period.

The £1m planting scheme will involve the planting of up to 600 trees on the approaches to East and West Floats at Wirral docks.

Funding will be provided by the Setting the Scene for Growth programme operated through the Forestry Commission.

The Mersey Forest will spearhead the initiative that uses street tree planting as a mechanism to improve the quality of life for people in town and cities.

Green Streets works at the heart of the community with residents and partner organisations to promote the value of greenery in tackling a range of social health and economic issues.

The project will also include measures to "green" key routes in the area; create a community-based growing project; establish a "multi-age" park and establish areas of intermediate woodland and wildflower meadows.

The streets and green spaces targeted for the scheme lead from and through residential areas and along key highway links bordering the Wirral Waters site.

The planting scheme would support proposed development activity in the area.

In addition, local transport infrastructure plans, including improved cycling, walking and local transport routes, would be enhanced.

Peel plan part of the imaginative Wirral Waters development as an "international-quality leisure destination."

They propose a series of five different quarters at East Float – each with its own character and design.

They would be called Sky City, Northbank West, Four Bridges, Marina View and Vittoria Studios.

Wirral Council's cabinet will meet on Thursday night to ratify the planting scheme.