Wirral's regeneration 'is 30 years behind Salford'

Parts of Salford have seen much redevelopment during the last 20 years, including MediaCityUK at Salford Quays

Wirral feels like it is 30 years behind Salford in Greater Manchester when it comes to regeneration, the author of a review commissioned by the Merseyside borough's council has said.

The study made a number of key recommendations for Wirral, including copying places where regeneration efforts have been more successful and establishing a dedicated partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Councillors unanimously accepted the findings of the regeneration consultant who led the review, Aughton Lane director Michael Palin.

He said that while Wirral Council had a vision and a lot of ambition, it needed to be balanced with the need to be realistic about what it could achieve.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Wirral was found to have faced difficult issues with Birkenhead's underground railway lines, heritage buildings, and Victorian docklands.

Mr Palin said: "I do think the [past] senior management and the leadership of the council should have spotted the problem earlier and should have been more transparent."

He suggested the local authority needed to avoid a downward spiral and must "move on from the negativity and reset going forward".

'Out in the open'

Mr Palin said he visited Salford Quays with Wirral Council's leader Paula Basnett, who commissioned his review.

He said there were similarities between Salford Quays and regeneration plans put forward for Wirral Waters and east Wirral.

Pointing to 500 apartments at Miller's Quay, he said they reminded him of the first new homes built in Salford in the 1980s.

He added: "It feels like you are 30 years behind."

Responding to the review, regeneration chair Mark Skillicorn said he was glad the council had investigated the issues.

"It's great everything is out in the open," he said.

Green Party councillor Ed Lamb said the review's findings were "a blow and I think we needed it".

While Conservative Jeff Green questioned whether the council "had bitten off more than we can chew".