Regeneration funds 'redirected' by council

A council has confirmed it will make a number of changes to plans for funding for a borough's regeneration schemes.

Wirral Council has said it will pull money from projects including the Wirral Transport Museum, Woodside Ferry Village and Birkenhead Priory.

But cash will be made available for a new Birkenhead Market, revamping New Ferry High Street and improvements to Birkenhead town centre.

Council leader Paul Stuart said: "After years of planning, preparation and securing millions of pounds of investment, Wirral is now powering ahead, delivering one of the biggest regeneration programmes in the country."

A report, published ahead of a council meeting next week, details how £3m of funding could also be removed from the council's plans to revamp the Wirral Transport Museum in Birkenhead, reducing the outlay on the project to just £1.5m. 

The local authority is also planning to withdraw its plans to pump £2m into new housing behind Conway Park Train Station. 

This is on top of £1.2m of funding it has already pulled for the Woodside Ferry Village and Birkenhead Priory projects following a decision by council officers.

The council said it was looking to redirect this funding towards a new Birkenhead Market, revamping the high street in New Ferry and improvements to Birkenhead Town Centre.

The authority is also looking to ask the government for extensions to grant funding agreements regarding projects in Woodside and New Ferry because of delays.

A Wirral Council spokesperson said schemes funded by the Future High Streets Fund Projects – now part of the Simplification Pathfinder Pilot – "are reviewed regularly to ensure projects are rebalanced and prioritised to ensure successful delivery".

A council representative added: "The Birkenhead Market project is now at an advanced stage of design development, and as design development has progressed this has allowed the project team to confirm that the funds required to deliver the project are £12m."

Wirral Council leader Councillor Paul Stuart said: "We are committed to creating a thriving, vibrant community that everyone can be proud of.

"Together, we are building a brighter future for Wirral."

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