LATER this month a consultation will be rolled out to hear residents' views on plans to redevelop Birkenhead town centre.

A report will be presented to Wirral Council's cabinet to ask for approval to 'initiate broad consultation on Wirral Growth Company's proposed redevelopment of Birkenhead town centre' as part of the council's wider programme for economic growth in the borough.

Cllr Angie Davies, portfolio holder for jobs and growth told the Globe: "Only by listening and engaging with local residents and deliver thousands of new jobs. We will be asking the question: 'What sort of place do you want Birkenhead to be?' and soliciting ideas about improving the public realm, establishing more residential opportunities in and around the town centre and expanding the leisure, retail and cultural offers available.

“After too many false dawns, Wirral residents are now looking forward to being asked to shape real plans and a concrete set of proposals to regenerate Birkenhead as the commercial and retail heart of Wirral.

“Wirral Growth Company is an ambitious partnership between Wirral Council and a private sector regeneration specialist, but it needs to be informed by the views of local residents and businesses across the town. This consultation will provide the qualitative and quantitative regeneration evidence base which has been missing.

“Wirral Growth Company has established some provisional ideas for what a rejuvenated Birkenhead could look like – a new market, improved retail and leisure offers and up to 300,000sq.ft of Grade A office space.

"The Council is excited by these initial ideas and feedback already received has been positive, but it’s now the turn of local residents to say what they aspire to see developed in the town.

“These are exciting times.

"Rebuilding work in Birkenhead could start as early as Spring 2019, so over the coming weeks and months I am proposing the Council and its partners conduct this wide ranging consultation, outreach and engagement to gather the views of local residents.”

Part of the planned transformation will take place on the site of the Vue Cinema and the Cabinet will be be asked to approve the acquisition of the building at a meeting on November 26.

The consultation programme is likely to include household surveys and face-to-face interviews.

Wirral Cabinet will also vote on the proposal to conduct consultation on Monday, November 26.