Peel Waters has secured planning permission for the next phase of the MEA Park West scheme, a key component of the £18m waterside transformation at Wirral Waters. The approval, granted by Wirral Council, marks the final of three planning applications and triggers the first phase of delivery.
Employment Hub in Liverpool City Region Freeport
The approved scheme will transform land east of Wallasey Bridge Road in Birkenhead into a high-quality hub for industrial, manufacturing, and logistics businesses within the Liverpool City Region Freeport area. Together, the three schemes will provide a total of 171,400 sq/ft of new employment space at the brownfield dockside site, creating more than 200 new jobs and attracting significant investment.
Key features of the first phase include a new near-45,000 sq/ft industrial building with office space, 53 car parking spaces, an electricity substation, and new landscaping and drainage infrastructure.
Developer and Council Comments
Richard Mawdsley, Wirral Waters development director at Peel Waters, said: “Securing planning consent for this next phase at MEA Park West is a significant milestone and an important step in bringing forward much-needed, high quality employment space at Wirral Waters. MEA Park is part of the Liverpool City Region Freeport and offers a highly connected, well-planned environment for modern businesses. This approval strengthens our ability to respond to growing demand for logistics and industrial space, while supporting Wirral’s wider economic ambitions.”
He added: “This scheme is also about unlocking the long-term potential. By remediating and preparing the land, we are creating the foundations for sustained investment, future development and high quality job creation. We are committed to delivering places that drive inclusive growth, and this is another clear example of momentum building across Wirral Waters.”
Wirral Council leader, Cllr Paula Basnett, said: “This development represents another important step forward in bringing investment, jobs and opportunities to our borough, and on top of that, it signifies that Wirral is open for business. Wirral Council is committed to supporting business growth, and MEA Park West, located within the Liverpool City Region Freeport, will deliver high-quality employment space while transforming a currently underused dockside site.”
She continued: “Following the approval given by the council's strategic applications sub committee, this development will build on and complement the wider plans for MEA Park approved earlier this year, including the transformation of the nearby Mobil building. These projects will help unlock the area's potential, attract new businesses and create new and lasting employment opportunities for local people – which is great news for growing Wirral’s economy now and in the future.”
