Conway Park Commercial Quarter
The Wirral Waters plan for Birkenhead town centre will see a brand new commercial quarter developed that will bring jobs and businesses with it.
Wirral Waters and Wirral Growth Company aim to make Birkenhead town centre a much busier and more attractive proposition for businesses, employers and consumers. The plan is to utilise already existing space at the site, with Europa Pools leisure centre and a Vue cinema making way for new commercial and office developments.
With a brand-new leisure centre and cinema earmarked for Conway Park to replace the ones being lost, Wirral Waters and Wirral Growth Company want the increased footfall and presence of workers in the area to boost round-the-clock economic activity.
A brand-new entrance for Conway Park train station is also planned, and a rejuvenated transport link will make access to the new Birkenhead town centre commercial quarter a much easier and more rewarding experience.
Brand New Birkenhead Market
Some of the most recent Wirral Waters news focuses on the redevelopment plans for Birkenhead market. The history of Birkenhead as a market town dates back to 1835. Birkenhead Market has endured economic trials and tribulations as the decades have rolled by, and customers and businesses have dwindled from this once bustling site, where butchers and fishmongers have traded in the same spot for generations.
However, those behind the Birkenhead regeneration realise there’s a lasting demand for a consumer experience where the owner knows your name, needs and tastes – and that’s where plans for Birkenhead market come in. This Birkenhead regeneration plan aims to bring the famous market into the 21st century while retaining its local importance and prominence in Birkenhead town centre.
As part of this latest phase of the Wirral masterplan, a brand-new market will be developed only a stone’s throw from its current location. Situated on the Europa Building site, recently acquired by Wirral council, the new Birkenhead Market will be cast as a link between the town’s past and future.
The new-look plans for Birkenhead market aim to attract a mix of older, more traditional shoppers with younger generations who may not have even visited the current site. By doing this, Birkenhead market will gain business from those who may have previously done their shopping online or in expansive retail parks.
There has been a lot of speculation over the expected outcome of the redeveloped markets. Some suggest that the new site will be modelled on Rotterdam’s world-famous Markthal; an immense structure daubed in colour and heaving with constant visitors and shoppers. Whatever the aesthetic outcome, the new Birkenhead Market will be one of the main proponents of the regeneration of Birkenhead town centre and bring a very exciting addition to the area.
Hamilton Square Creative Quarter
Hamilton Square is one of Birkenhead’s most visually-appealing spots. It has the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in any square outside of London, and its beautiful Georgian architecture and public green space make it one of Merseyside’s hidden gems.
Already home to the much-anticipated Hamilton Hub student apartments, Wirral Waters news has reported plans for new and exciting regeneration projects underway for the Hamilton Square area, with some likening the new regeneration plans to that of Liverpool’s popular Baltic Triangle.
Plans for a new creative quarter include the development of a luxury boutique hotel with a conference facility, which would take its place among a mix of brand new commercial and residential opportunities. Hamilton Square is almost equidistant from both Birkenhead town centre and the planned Wirral Waters education campus. The new Hamilton Square Creative Quarter could not be better placed to become the economic engine room of a brand-new Birkenhead.
The Total Gross Development Value across the Hamilton Square area is more than £60m, and the investment opportunities are an extremely attractive proposition. Plans are in place to develop 100 new residential units and 160 student bed spaces alongside 3,600 square metres of retail and commercial space.
As a result of these new developments, expect exciting times for Wirral property investment, with a number of huge businesses launching within the area and increasing the appeal of Birkenhead and the Wirral as top locations for young professionals. With such a short distance between Birkenhead to Liverpool city centre, it’s likely that young professional workers will commute to Hamilton Square from Liverpool to take advantage of the growing range of opportunities on the horizon. All in all, Hamilton Square Creative Quarter is on course to become the epicentre of a regenerated Birkenhead Town Centre.
