PLANS for a dementia care village forming part of the Wirral Waters development have been approved by councillors.

Belong Wirral, to be built on Northbank in Dock Road in Birkenhead, will provide 'class-leading dementia care and accommodation' for over 100 people, comprising a mix of 24-hour care and nursing support in extended family sized households and independent living apartments.

The £15m development will consist of 34 apartments and six households containing 72 care spaces in total and three guest bedrooms.

The village will also house a range of facilities open to the public, including bistro, hair salon, exercise studio and function rooms; all designed to promote maximum engagement with local communities.

There will also be a host of village centre amenities open to the public, including a bistro, specialist gym, hair salon, library and range of function rooms. The plans were approved by Wirral Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, subject to conditions.

Tracey Stakes, chief executive of Belong Villages, the specialist dementia care firm behind the plans, said: "We are delighted that Wirral Council has recognised the value of a Belong village within the wider scheme.

"Wirral Waters is an ambitious, landmark regeneration project, and as innovators in the field of dementia care, Belong will create a thriving and vibrant community within it, offering a much needed provision for later life care in the area.

"We will also be creating over 140 jobs in the local economy as a consequence of our new development."

As well as public amenities, the buildings will also contain a lounge, winter garden, spa, offices, laundry and kitchen for residents.

Belong has said the 72 spaces will be for those who may need advanced support and 24-hour care, such as those with dementia.

The village will also support people in the wider community through its registered domiciliary care service, Belong at Home, and its specialist day care service, Experience Days.

The plans received no objections from any of the authorities, nor local residents.

The news follows the 500-home Wirral Waters One development given planning permission by the same committee back in December.

Richard Mawdsley, director of development at Peel Land and Property, the firm behind Wirral Waters, said: "We are really pleased that this development has now been approved by Wirral Council's planning committee. With an ageing population, this residential project will be a crucial part of our housing offer at Wirral Waters and will help to create a thriving and diverse community.

"Belong offers an incredibly vibrant, dynamic and versatile setting for residents to enjoy, whatever their needs or abilities, and we are really excited to be working in partnership with them on this project."

The development will have 39 parking spaces including two disabled bays, also with two ambulance servicing bays and parking for 12 bicycles.

The report concluded: "The proposed scheme will prove to be a positive addition to the wider Wirral Waters master plan, providing a much needed care facility for older residents in the area, allowing them to remain part of their community.

"The design has been carefully considered and developed in collaboration with the council, the client and master planner, to achieve a scheme which is both functional and attractive and will improved the architectural language of the area.

"The development, together with additional submitted schemes will help establish a new city neighbourhood at East Float and around Birkenhead town centre to secure major economic growth, jobs and training alongside investment in high levels of housing and employment and the provision of supporting leisure, retail, community, health and education uses."