DETAILS of "ambitious and inspirational" plans to regenerate Birkenhead have been submitted to the Government in a bid for funding.

Wirral Council hopes to secure £45m in Town Deal investment by illustrating how the area's maritime and entrepreneurial heritage and its determination to innovate will lay the foundations for transformation.

If successful, the money will allow a number of flagship projects to progress, such as Wirral Growth Company's town centre development.

Wirral Globe:

This is how the new office quarter in Birkenhead could look

The projects are described as "considerable" and include capital funding investment covering building and equipment rather than revenue “day-to-day” costs, for new workspaces for business growth and for diverse arts and cultural facilities, as well as education and health and well-being infrastructure.

It will also see investment in Birkenhead's waterfront and the newly-named Dock Branch Park, by turning nearly 1km of disused railway into an invaluable park and active travel community asset.

The proposals outlined in the investment plan will also complement work to be carried out in the town centre as a result of the award last month of £25m from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

This will include the development of new housing, a modern, purpose-built market and mix of highways schemes which a council spokesperson said, aim to make the town centre "a much easier place to access".

Birkenhead was one of only 101 towns invited to apply for the Government’s Town Deal grant last year. The scheme itself was devised so that any town which decided to submit a bid would have to address specific themes including economic growth, sustainability, educations & skills and connectivity.

In addition, the Government stipulated that plans should advance those projects which were endorsed by the community and local businesses.

In order to help shape the Town Investment Plan in line with the criteria, a Town Deal Board was established last February, representing people who both live and work within the borough.

Since then, the members of the board, including MPs, councillors, representatives of local businesses and voluntary and community groups, have worked in partnership to deliver an investment plan that, it hoped, reflects the aspirations of Birkenhead’s local communities.

Councillor Anita Leech, chair of Wirral's economy, regeneration and development committee, said: "We want these ambitious development programmes to be meaningful to local people so they can see their potential to bring about sustainable change which will lead to an improved quality of life for those who live, work and visit this area.

"The regeneration of Birkenhead is not just about transforming the landscape, it's about inspiring people to take a leap of faith to be a part of community-based enterprise so they not only contribute to our local recovery but to sustainable growth, adding to shared wealth and prosperity."

The Government is expected to announce the outcome of the Birkenhead Town Investment Plan bid for funding in April.

The council has already been awarded £1m as "accelerator" funding through the Town Deal process to help certain creative and culture projects get underway.

A spokesperson said: "The projects are fundamental to the successful regeneration of Birkenhead and this has already started to take shape around Argyle Street and the neighbouring area, which is fast-emerging as a creative quarter in its own right.

"After a rigorous assessment process, the council will be set to announce the names of the successful recipients of accelerator funding in the next few weeks."