BIRKENHEAD'S MP has welcomed 'ambitious and realistic' regeneration plans for the town.

Mick Whitley's comments come after diggers demolished several closed shops and unattractive vacant buildings in the shopping area known as Milton Pavements to make way for an office development.

It is part of an "innovative masterplan for the town centre which will see a highly-accessible, central business district created with new energy-efficient office buildings set within extensive public realm and green space".

The first phase of development will bring forward two office buildings, totalling 150,000 sq ft, which are hoped to be ready on the Milton Pavements site in the middle of next year.

Later phases will see a replacement market built and wider regeneration of the town's Leftbank urban development area.

Two nearby flyovers are also to be demolished and hundreds of new homes built as part of plans.

Birkenhead is described as one of the most deprived areas of Britain with two of the poorest wards in the entire country in Bidston and St James and Rock Ferry.

Its unemployment levels and claimant count are described as "above average".

That is why the town's MP Mick Whitley is so important to the area's future.

He said today: "I believe the plans are a combination of ambition and realism. Ambition to put our town back on the industrial and commercial map.

"Ambition to attract the inward investment that our town needs. Ambition to make Birkenhead a great place to live.

"But they are realistic too. They focus on targets that are achievable. We can create jobs by building in new houses.

"We can attract investment by offering accessible and well-placed industrial sites. And we can look to a future as part of a City Region that is committed to a Green Industrial Revolution with the Mersey Tidal Project, a North West Low Carbon industrial cluster, the Mersey Bay Offshore Wind Farms and the like.

"By bringing together partners such as Peel, Wirral Met College, the Council, local businesses and a variety of actual or potential investors, together with the involvement of the trade union movement and community organisations the framework for regeneration does meet the needs of Birkenhead and its people.

"My constituents need new homes. They need dignified and well-paid jobs. Good amenities, nice places to relax in and a healthy environment are vital for our town are not optional in the modern civilised world. They are essential and building them is at the heart of this plan.

"The plan aims to deliver these things and I will do all I can to hasten its success. Never mind Tory buzz words about levelling up.

"This is regeneration in action.

"My election motto was 'Building a Better Birkenhead'.

"I am delighted to be working with the various agencies, trade unions and people involved in the plan to help achieve that goal."

Milton Pavements' regeneration is being carried out by Wirral Growth Company - a strategic joint venture between Wirral Council and urban regenerator Muse Developments.

Demolition of the shops and unattractive vacant buildings began in January.

Mike Horner, director at Wirral Growth Company, said recently: "Despite challenging circumstances, we're delighted to be starting on site.

"This is a key moment in the transformation of the town centre as we will all start to see construction activity and a physical change on the ground.

"The demolition of Milton Pavements will pave the way for the exciting first phase of commercial development.

"This will really kick start our journey on the Wirral, as we start to see the physical manifestation of our collective vision for Birkenhead that will drive growth and prosperity for the borough."

Councillor Anita Leech, chair of Wirral's economy, regeneration and development committee, said: "This is the start of a flagship project which will regenerate the town centre, making a statement that Wirral is open for business, despite the current challenges, ensuring it will continue to transform itself to secure a positive future for its people and its business communities."