Plans for almost 200 new homes in Birkenhead are set to be given the green light by Wirral Council this week.

Keepmoat Homes want to build a 178-dwelling scheme including parking and a new pedestrian pathway on land off Beaufort Road.

The land is currently owned by the council – and has a ‘negative land value’. Because of this, according to documents on the local authority’s website, ‘no affordable housing is to be secured’ from the development.

The homes will be a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses, and the scheme will also include 356 new parking spaces.

Each house, the application report says, will have off-street parking and an ‘adequate rear garden area’.

The site comprises of a large area located between a railway line to the south, Beaufort Road to the north, Lincoln Street to the east and Birkenhead North train station car park to the west.

It has been vacant for some years, but previously contained a number of houses. Just three of these houses now remain, with only one of those occupied.

A condition has been recommended to ensure a safe route for pedestrians is provided across Ilchester Road to/from Birkenhead North train station.

The proposals include provisions for cyclists on Ilchester Road and the introduction of traffic calming measures and a 20mph zone.

Documents on Wirral Council’s website go on to say that ‘overall, the density of the scheme is considered to be suitable and makes effective use of this brownfield site.’

The local authority’s planning committee is set to approve the proposal at its meeting on Thursday (August 15).

An anticipated completion date has been given as some time in 2024.