Peel praises planning progress as Wirral Waters is approved

PEEL Group has praised the decision by the Coalition Government not to call in its 17m sq ft Peel Waters planning application, meaning that the project can go ahead next year.

Development director Lindsay Ashworth said that although the recession had made the whole masterplanning process of the £4.5bn scheme more difficult, the decision not to call it in meant that it can now start work on delivering the vision which it initially set out to the people of Wirral over three  years ago.

“When we launched the Vision of Wirral Waters to the people of Wirral over 3 years ago at the Lauries Centre we were given massive encouragement and support and because of this I promised them that we would see this through,” said Ashworth.
 
“The new Government advocates that the local communities should be listened to and if they supported projects then that would have a substantial influence on the final Government decision.

“We have had thousands of letters of support from local people and that has made a positive case for final approval. What a fantastic result!

“The ridiculous “black hole” of a planning system that we have had to suffer in the UK for more years than I can remember is finally starting to show signs of common sense. The planning shackles that have been holding back progress and job creation are being loosened at long last.”

Peel anticipates that the Wirral Waters scheme could bring 20,000 new jobs to the area over the next 20 years.

The move by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles not to call the ambitious development in for public inquiry was hailed as a ‘landmark’ for Wirral by council leader Jeff Green.

Wirral Waters, which will create thousands of jobs and transform the landscape, was granted planning permission in August.

The planned development at Wallasey and Birkenhead Docks is so large that it had to be scrutinised by Government, who could have ordered a public inquiry. However, the council received notice yesterday that the scheme would not be called in for further review.

Cllr Jeff Green said: “It’s not everyday that a Leader of a Council is given the go-ahead to see 26,000 jobs created.  I am delighted the Government has demonstrated its trust in allowing local people to make the decision and will not ‘call in’ the Wirral Waters plan for national review.

“This is a £4.5bn project which will create many thousands of jobs over 10-15 years.  It is a landmark day for Wirral and is tremendous news.”

Peel Group is now seeking to secure funding for Wirral Waters and its other landmark scheme on the other side of the River Mersey, Liverpool Waters.

The privately-owned property group has been wooing Chinese investment, and has had several top-level meetings both in this country and in China.

Cllr Green added: “When I was in China, I spoke to people about possible investment opportunities. Now we have full outline planning we can start marketing the plans to other potential investors.

“There was real interest shown in China in terms of Wirral Waters and Liverpool Waters.  We need to now get cracking and start seeing these jobs created.”

Peel Group has said that it now plans to push ahead to gain approval for the Liverpool Waters elemant of the scheme.

“At that point, the sky is the limit and the closer we are to the sky with our tall buildings the better,” said Ashworth.

Richard Knight of planning consultancy Turley Associates, which acted for Peel on Wirral Waters, said: “We are delighted that the Government has decided not to intervene. This outline permission gives Peel the certainty and flexibility needed to deliver a project of this magnitude of the next few decades.”

“With this landmark decision in place, the Peel Group will now be able to forge ahead and embark on the marketing phase of the project. This will include branding and place-making and will involve a marketing team plus inward investment agencies including Wirral Council and the new partnerships for the Liverpool City Region and Atlantic Gateway.”