Leader's Blog: Building the Wirral we want to see
October has been an important month for Wirral, bringing a series of developments that give us real reasons to be positive about our borough and its future.
Earlier this month, the new Wirral Plan 2027-2031 was presented to Full Council, setting out our ambitions for the next four years.
Plans and strategies matter because they provide direction and a shared sense of purpose. But the real test is always whether they lead to improvements that residents can see and feel in their everyday lives.
That must now be our focus: turning ambition into action and building the Wirral we want to see.
One of the most visible examples of progress this month has been the return of Wirral's buses to public control for the first time in four decades.
Good public transport is about far more than getting from A to B. It connects people to jobs, education, healthcare, family and friends, opening up opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.
The new network delivers more frequent services on some routes, additional evening, Sunday and early-morning journeys, and improved links to key destinations across the borough. I'm particularly pleased to see better public transport connections to Arrowe Park Hospital and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
While these changes may appear to be simple timetable adjustments, their impact can be life changing. They make it easier for someone to get to work, attend a hospital appointment or visit a loved one. That is exactly the kind of practical, everyday difference we want investment in our transport network to deliver.
October has also brought fantastic recognition for Wirral as a place to visit, enjoy and spend time.
A number of Wirral businesses, attractions and tourism professionals have been shortlisted in the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, including the Floral Pavilion, Future Yard, Port Sunlight Village Trust, Eureka! Science + Discovery, The Red Fox and New Brighton Creative Futures.
There was further encouraging news with figures from Booking.com placing Wirral third among the UK's top trending domestic destinations for 2027. Searches for stays in Wirral increased by around 190% year-on-year, highlighting growing interest in our peninsula.
With our coastline, beaches, parks, heritage, culture, food and drink, and outstanding attractions, we have so much to be proud of. A growing visitor economy not only showcases the best of Wirral to new audiences, but also supports local businesses, creates jobs and brings additional spending into our communities.
Housing is another area where we must continue to turn ambition into delivery. The need for more high-quality, affordable homes is something I have highlighted consistently, and October has brought further signs of progress.
In the past month alone, work began on The Parchments in Oxton Village, where Magenta Living is developing 30 new homes for social rent as part of a £7 million scheme. The council has also agreed to acquire 38 newly built homes at the Northstone development in Bromborough for social rent.
Together, these projects will deliver more homes than originally planned under the council's housing programme and help provide settled, affordable accommodation for households who might otherwise face longer periods in higher-cost temporary accommodation.
For the families who will eventually call these properties home, this is about far more than bricks and mortar. A secure, affordable home provides stability, opportunity and the foundation on which people can build their lives.
With the Chancellor committing an additional £1.5 billion to social and affordable housing nationally, taking the Government's 10-year programme beyond £40 billion, we will continue working closely with our housing partners to seize this opportunity and secure further investment for Wirral communities.
There has also been welcome recognition this month for those working to improve the lives of our children and young people.
Wirral Youth Justice Service received an award at the North West IMPACT Awards in recognition of its Child First approach, innovative practice and contribution to wider system reform.
Even more importantly, the service's latest annual report shows youth reoffending in Wirral has fallen by almost 17% over the past two years, while the number of first-time entrants to the youth justice system remains below both regional and national averages.
Behind those statistics are young people and families whose lives can be transformed through the right support and intervention. I want to congratulate the staff, volunteers and partner organisations whose dedication is helping create better outcomes and brighter futures.
Taken together, these developments tell an encouraging story about the direction of travel for our borough.
Our ambitions for Wirral are significant. We want more high-quality homes, better transport connections, stronger communities, greater opportunities for young people and a thriving economy that supports businesses, attracts visitors, creates jobs and encourages investment.
None of this happens overnight, and I will never pretend there are not serious challenges ahead. But ambition becomes meaningful when residents begin to see and experience real improvements in their daily lives.
Ultimately, progress is measured not by plans or promises, but by outcomes: being better connected, having the security of a good home, receiving support when it is needed and seeing local neighbourhoods thrive.
That is how we build the Wirral we want to see.
And with our new Wirral Plan providing a clear roadmap for the years ahead, our task now is to maintain that momentum, turn ambition into action and deliver the change our residents rightly expect.
Cllr Paula Basnett
Leader of Wirral Council
