Homes England has agreed to invest £29million into Wirral Council’s Hind Street Urban Garden Village project.
A total of £51million has now been secured for the project which aims to build over 1,500 new homes, a park and 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, as well as improving transport links.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority agreed to provide £22million for the scheme in September, a figure that was contingent on Homes England making its own contribution.
The Hind Street Urban Garden Village would see the conversion of the 65-acre former gas works site into a thriving neighbourhood over the next 10 to 15 years.
Ion Property Developments is the developer partner for the project and will lead on the enabling works, design of the scheme and the planning application. BDP is the designer of the masterplan, while the project team also includes WSP, Curtins, and Planit.
The £51million from Homes England and LCRCA will go towards infrastructure works on the site to enable the delivery of the first phase of 633 homes. This includes relocating the gas supply in Birkenhead from the Hind Street area. Providing planning permission is granted, phase one could begin next year and finish in 2027.
Wirral Council Leader, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “I’m pleased our ambitious ideas to transform this key area have this backing, enabling us to get started bringing along new homes, public spaces, and better-connected living for our residents.”
“Our regeneration strategy looks beyond changes to the built environment to see that in the long term, when regeneration is people-focussed, it reduces inequalities, creates employment opportunities, and improves the health and well-being of those individuals and families who are making their homes and lives in our borough.”
The Hind Street partnership forms part of a wider agreement between Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which saw Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, and Homes England chief executive, Peter Denton, sign a memorandum of understanding to work together on long-term strategic placemaking in the region.
Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “This is really exciting news which marks a significant milestone in our mission to regenerate Birkenhead and the wider Wirral.”
“Through our strategic place partnership with Homes England, we’re accelerating transformational projects like Hind Street, turning derelict land into vibrant, sustainable communities that our region deserves.”
“With over 1,500 new homes being built, alongside improved transport links and green spaces, this project will serve as a blueprint for the type of regeneration we want to see across the Liverpool City Region—regeneration that not only delivers homes but creates jobs, boosts local businesses, and builds stronger communities.”
Homes England chief executive, Peter Denton, added: “The strategic place partnership model gives us a framework to support local leaders who have a strong vision for housing and regeneration in their area. The Liverpool City Region is undoubtedly an area with huge potential for growth and is somewhere the government has already shown commitment to.”
“The funding approved today for Hind Street Urban Village is further evidence of our support for the region and aligns with our mission to work together with the mayor and his team, to develop a pipeline of housing and regeneration development and help the combined authority unlock the region’s full potential.”
