Peel Ports Logistics has unveiled a £10m redevelopment of the Eastfloat Terminal at the Port of Birkenhead, positioning the scheme as a key element in the town's wider regeneration. The move comes as 2026 begins with renewed momentum after years of delays and scrutiny over public spending on local projects.

Recent visible progress includes the installation of the Woodside ferry landing stage and linkspan, part of Wirral Council's Mersey Ferries strategy. A new vessel, the Royal Daffodil, is also due to enter service this year.

In her Autumn Statement in November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves named Birkenhead as one of the UK's 'trailblazer neighbourhoods' set to receive multi-year funding for community-led regeneration, supporting the Council's Birkenhead 2040 plans.

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Industry bodies argue that public funding must be paired with private capital to maximise impact. The maritime sector is central to the Liverpool City Region, contributing at least £5bn to the UK economy, and for every job created in maritime, six more are supported across the supply chain—often locally—according to Mersey Maritime and Maritime UK/CEBR analysis.

At Eastfloat, the terminal will be comprehensively overhauled to deliver around 460,000 sq ft of indoor and external storage, alongside upgraded warehousing and cargo-handling equipment. The modernised facility is being configured to handle a wide mix of cargoes, including steel, timber, project and containerised loads, animal feed and components for offshore renewables. Peel Ports Logistics will provide on-site services from vessel chartering through to final delivery by road.

The terminal is now owned by Peel Ports Group and will continue to be operated by Peel Ports Logistics. Initial redevelopment works are scheduled for completion by the end of 2030, with the site remaining operational throughout the programme.

The scheme is intended to modernise a historic waterfront asset while supporting local and national supply chains, with the operator expecting the upgrade to drive trade volumes and jobs as Birkenhead's regeneration gathers pace.