£250m Plans To Turn Birkenhead Into 'Major Business Capital'
Ambitious plans have been announced to transform Birkenhead & the Wirral into one of Europe's major business centres.
Wirral Council say they hope to bring around £250m worth of investment to the borough by 2020 - Projects worth around £150m are due to be rolled out before the end of the year.
Cllr. Phil Davies, Leader of Wirral Council today announced plans to make Downtown Birkenhead the most attractive postcode for companies wanting to invest in the Northern Powerhouse.
The council is today considering a Wirral Growth Plan to more than double that investment over the next five years.
Davies, said he wants Birkenhead and Wirral to be ‘first choice for developers and companies looking to invest in the Northern Powerhouse.’
‘Wirral is a place investors are interested in. Already home to global businesses including Cammell Laird, Vauxhall Motors, Typhoo Tea and Unilever’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre – businesses and employers are looking for available land, skilled staff and a strong transport and digital infrastructure - Wirral can offer all that and more.’
The Wirral Growth Plan, presented to Wirral Council’s cabinet today, aims to:
• Attract £250 million of new private sector investment into Wirral by 2020 • Create 250 new businesses • Generate and safeguard 5,000 jobs, and • Build 3,500 new homes
‘There are already a number of priority schemes set to go live in 2016, including plans for the regeneration of Woodside and rejuvenation of Downtown Birkenhead, new projects in Wirral Waters including housing and waterfront developments, and improvements to Birkenhead Market and the retail and leisure offer in the town.
‘Where else can investors get UNESCO World Heritage views, a working port and dock system, award winning schools and colleges and a local authority with a proven track record of supporting business?
‘I’m confident our Downtown Birkenhead postcode - CH41 – can become the most attractive in the Northern Powerhouse for investment.’
The Wirral Growth Plan outlines new approaches to driving further investment and growth in Wirral by creating a revitalised Downtown Birkenhead as a national centre for enterprise in the low carbon industry, professional services, retail and leisure, advanced manufacturing and the maritime industry.
Paula Basnett, CEO of Wirral Chamber of Commerce and lead partner for tourism and business, said: ‘It is of great importance that all organisations work together to create an environment which will offer employment, growth and economic prosperity. Wirral Chamber of Commerce will support those initiatives which will bring positive benefits to Wirral, its businesses and its residents.’
The Plan has been developed by Wirral Council with key local partners, including Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Wirral Metropolitan College. It outlines how the council will lead the plan, with the active and ongoing participation of local partners. It has a strong focus on private sector driven opportunity, facilitated by the council, and is designed to help foster investor confidence.
This latest plan will build upon recent successes, with Cammell Laird once again a leading player in the international maritime industry, and the Contact Company expanding into new offices at Tower Wharf, creating more than 400 new jobs this year.