PLANS to build 46 affordable and "attractive" apartments in Birkenhead have been put to the local authority.

The apartments – set to be built in Conway Street – will benefit from communal amenity space and good access to public transport, but there will be just 10 parking spaces on site.

That is only marginally above one space for every five apartments, but there is evidence of reduced car ownership in this form of accommodation.

The height of the apartment block will vary between three and four storeys, a greater height was resisted to avoid overwhelming adjacent properties.

Condy Lofthouse Architects – the designers behind the scheme, said the building’s style was "bespoke", but not out of keeping with the character of the area, noting that buildings nearby vary in style, age and design.

Previously, the site was home to a single storey office and a warehouse, formerly operated by Birkenhead Van Hire – who have since relocated to Hind Street.

The office unit will be demolished as part of the plans, but the warehouse will remain.

Developers One Vision Housing will not set a date for building to begin until Wirral Council has assessed the plans.

A spokesperson for One Vision Housing, said: "Our proposed plans for Conway Street in Birkenhead support One Vision Housing’s regeneration agenda and will help provide much needed affordable housing on the Wirral.

"This location benefits from excellent transport links and we believe there will be adequate parking for residents.

"We will continue to work closely with the community and Wirral Council during the course of this project, and look forward to creating future opportunities in the area."

Wirral does require a huge amount of affordable housing if the borough is to make plans to build 12,000 homes over the next 15 years a success.

Under Wirral Council’s current plans, Birkenhead and Wallasey will be major centres of the house building effort.

The council must produce its Local Plan – based on national targets dictating that by 2035 12,000 additional homes must be built in the borough, by November.

Despite this, there have been suggestions that the council should ask for this deadline to be extended based on the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.