Building work has begun to regenerate New Ferry in Wirral.

A ceremony took place nearly seven years after an explosion damaged more than 200 buildings and affected many local people. The first phase of the project will see 34 new homes built in the area.

Representatives and elected members from Wirral Council joined others representing the development partner, The Regenda Group and their construction specialists M&Y Maintenance and Construction at the ceremony.

The MP for the Wirral South constituency which includes New Ferry - Alison McGovern - was also present, as were representatives from Homes England, who have provided £1.9m funding towards the development of the new, affordable homes.

The guests of honour were pupils from Grove Street Primary School, who will benefit from the Positive Footprints' Raising Aspirations programme as part of the regeneration project.

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The ceremony marked the start of construction of 20 homes on Boundary Road, comprising of 13 one-bedroom and 7 two-bedroom apartments available under the Rent to Buy scheme, and 14 apartments on Bebington Road for affordable rent available through Regenda Homes, allocated through the Property Pool Plus system.

The development of these two sites represents the first phase of the New Ferry regeneration scheme. A planning application to develop two further sites on Woodhead Street and New Chester Road is currently being determined and a decision expected by the end of April.

The new housing developments will be complemented by improvements to the public realm along Bebington Road and additional car parking facilities on Grove Street, supported by funding from the government’s Future High Streets Fund (FHSF).

This is another significant milestone in the redevelopment of New Ferry. I know it is so important for residents and businesses to finally see spades in the ground on a comprehensive development that will deliver much-needed affordable housing to the area, for both rental and rent to buy.

Regenerating New Ferry has long been a top priority for the council. However, it has been a complex process, requiring investment and hard work to get to this point due to most of the land and buildings within the development sites being in private ownership.