Strategic development partnership formed to deliver Hind Street Urban Village

Purpose-led residential development venture, Picture This, and sustainable regeneration developer, Ion Property Developments, have formed a strategic development partnership.

Their first project together will see Manchester-based Picture This support Liverpool’s Ion in a strategic advisory capacity on Hind Street Urban Garden Village, which includes 1,600 homes, supporting commercial uses and the new high level linear park, Dock Branch Park South, at Urban Village in Birkenhead.

Last month Ion gained planning approval for the scheme, which is located on the site of a former gasworks and railway siding. This comes after Wirral Borough Council, working with Ion, secured £51m of funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England for the scheme.

Moving forward, Picture This and Ion plan to work together on more projects including those where the Picture This approach to design and the long term stewardship of residential developments will bring added value.

Steve Parry, Managing Director, Ion Developments, said: “Picture This bring extensive residential experience to support us at Hind Street. Its contribution to design, strategic phasing, multi-tenure funding and delivery, place making and user engagement will complement our ambition to deliver a multi-generational, green urban neighbourhood in Birkenhead.

“We recognise the Picture This approach could be a perfect addition to other projects, bringing added value to mixed use developments.”

Mike Nicholson, co-founder of Picture This, said: “We are excited to be able to support Ion in the delivery of the Hind Street project which presents an exciting opportunity to deliver an exemplar residential village with strong environmental and social credentials.

“We’re excited to be supporting Ion as they enter the next stage of bringing this new neighbourhood to life and we look forward to growing our partnership.”

Phase one of Hind Street is expected to be under way by summer and will include remediation, the delivery of Dock Branch Park South, 633 homes and 14,000 sq ft of commercial space developed.

Founded in January 2024 by Shannon Conway and Mike Nicholson, Picture This has a national remit and ambition of creating 10 Picture This communities over the next decade.

Their first development, a joint venture of 245 homes in Stockport, is due on site later this year.

Established in 1990, Ion Property Developments focuses on large area-based regeneration schemes working closely with public sector partners to revitalise town and city centres, creating vibrancy and a sense of place by developing high quality sustainable buildings and spaces.