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If Liverpool is a little too lively for you, there’s a quieter spot right across the River Mersey – and it’s about to benefit from a major waterfront redevelopment project. That’s right, Birkenhead on the west bank is getting a riverside revamp, including a children’s play area and walking paths overlooking the Pool of Life.
The peaceful Cheshire town has produced the likes of war poet Wilfred Owen and actor Taron Egerton, and has a host of historical architectural sights – its town square, Hamilton Square boasts the largest collection of Grade I-listed buildings outside London.
On March 10, Wirral Council recommended approval for the updated plans for its latest project. The plans were unanimously approved back in 2025, but due to rising costs had to be revisited. Mostly covered by government grants, it’ll cost £25.6 million, with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority providing £12.7 million to build ‘a dynamic creative quarter’ on Argylle Street. The plans are also getting boosted by a £12.9 million regeneration grant.
Only a few steps away from Hamilton Square Station, the project will help bridge Birkenhead town centre and the River Mersey. The historic port town will get a brand new play area, cycle lanes and walking spots, aimed at improving transport links for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.
To minimise traffic, a signalised junction will replace the Conway Street roundabout near Argylle Street. Alongside it, there will be a new cycle lane, a zebra crossing, and new restrictions for parking and loading. There are also plans to create a new one-way road along Hamilton Street and Bridge Street, followed by new crossings, and resurfacing carriageways near Hamilton Square. Around the square, a two-way cycle lane will be built along with rain gardens and new greenery – including 66 new trees being planted.
Currently, the council has not announced a completion date, but with its spending plan ending around Easter 2028, it seems like the new play area might only be a few years away.
This comes off the back of ‘Birkenhead 2040 Framework’ – a 2020 Wirral Council initiative which aims to reconnect the town center with the waterfront, create more green spaces and build ‘family-friendly neighbourhoods’. And it isn’t the only green new project taking place in Birkenhead that’s just received an update – the Dock Branch Park is being planned on old train tracks while a new playground is being built in Spital.
Right across the river, big changes are coming Liverpool. Soon, the city will be getting its very own Dishoom, a Chick-fil-a branch and even a 70-storey skyscraper on the waterfront – which will become its tallest building.
Did you see that one of the UK’s greatest cities is getting a £54 million new museum?
Plus: the prettiest seaside towns in the UK for coastal getaways.
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