Excavators have arrived at the site of a new urban village next to Birkenhead town centre, marking the beginning of a significant regeneration project.

Last month (January 2025), local councillors approved plans for the Hind Street development, which will see the creation of a new neighbourhood featuring up to 1,600 homes, a park along the old Dock Branch railway line, and enhanced facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. The project will also include new commercial and community facilities.

Before construction on the new homes can begin, however, the site will require extensive remediation to address contamination from its previous use as the town's gasworks. Additionally, infrastructure improvements, including transport links and the development of the Dock Branch park, will also need to be carried out.

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To support the project, Wirral Council has secured £52 million from Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to fund the remediation and infrastructure works, which are scheduled to start in Autumn 2025.

In preparation for these works, John Sisk & Son has been appointed to conduct further surveys and design work under a Pre-Contract Service Agreement (PCSA). Beginning in February 2025, the company will undertake some vegetation clearance, with diggers and other machinery clearing the way for the remediation and infrastructure efforts that will begin later in the year.

These preparatory works, along with the main contract to address the contamination and build the new infrastructure, are expected to take up to two years. Construction of the first homes is slated to begin in 2027.

The project is being delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with ION Property Developments Ltd. Initially, ION will oversee the delivery of the remediation and infrastructure works on behalf of the Council, before taking the lead in delivering the housing. Over the next few years, 633 homes will be built on the remediated site.

Once that phase is complete, attention will shift to the northern part of the site, where further housing will be developed, and work will begin to demolish the flyovers currently separating the site from Birkenhead town centre.