New sustainable urban village in Birkenhead moves ever closer with submission of planning application.

Regeneration specialists Ion Property Developments Limited (Ion) have submitted plans for its expansive scheme to transform the Hind Street area of Birkenhead.  The application outlines plans for the low-carbon scheme including 1,600 new homes, a new primary school and up to 60,200m2 of commercial space.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, Ion and other stakeholders have been working to create a concept for a low-carbon urban village that will deliver a sustainable residential-led neighbourhood, close to both Birkenhead Town Centre and the two railway stations (Birkenhead Central and Green Lane).

The 26-hectare Hind Street Urban Garden Village Project will bring new life to the area and will fulfil the Council’s long-standing desire to remove the 1960’s flyovers that currently act as a visual and physical barrier to the Town Centre. The removal of the flyovers will encourage integrated communities and will foster economic growth and as well as neighbourhood cohesion.

The current application includes the remedial and infrastructure works for the southern section of the project. The ambitious programme supports Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan (2021-2037)  in transforming brownfield sites to new residential led regeneration opportunities.  The Hind Street project will re-purpose the former Birkenhead Gas Works and the Mollington Train Maintenance Depot to this end. Part of the programme includes the introduction of significant green and recreational spaces as well as transforming the former Dock Branch train line into an active travel corridor and leisure route, to connect with other active travel routes being planned for the town. The scheme will also exceed the Biodiversity Net Gain targets established through the emerging Local Plan.

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Steve Parry, managing director of Ion, said: ‘We’re delighted to see this next step in the vital regeneration of the Hind Street area, which is such an important part of the future regeneration of Birkenhead. The new and existing neighbourhood, which includes 1,600 new homes, will enjoy new and more seamless connections within the neighbourhood and to the town centre itself, as well as much better connections to Liverpool and other city region transport hubs.  We’re working hard towards a goal of achieving the highest quality green urban village, which we hope will set a standard for innovation, connectivity, and quality of life.”

Ion are working in collaboration with WSP (planning consultancy, transportation, and environmental assessment), BDP (masterplanning and architecture), Planit.ie (landscape), and Curtins (remediation & engineering); and are working towards the highest standards of urban design in close collaboration with Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.