Miller’s Quay development praised for commitment to local communities
The team responsible for delivering the £130m Miller’s Quay residential development at Wirral Waters has been praised for its commitment to “ensuring that it delivers for local workers, students and the surrounding communities”.
Peel Waters’ Miller’s Quay development is a transformational residential scheme, delivering high levels of sustainability and innovation as well as significant social impact.
It is the single biggest development to date at Wirral Waters, the UK’s largest and most sustainable regeneration project and when complete, Miller’s Quay will comprise five hundred highly sustainable one- and two-bedroom waterfront apartments, including 100 affordable new homes. The first phase of Miller’s Quay is due to open in the summer of 2024.
And since being appointed as the lead contractor for Miller’s Quay at Wirral Waters early in 2022, GRAHAM, working in partnership with the Wirral Waters team and a number of other sub-contractors on site, has recorded a number of impressive achievements in relation to its social impact.
Local people have benefitted hugely from the employment and training opportunities at Miller’s Quay: -
• More than 350 students from Wirral Met College’s Construction Campus have had site tours and Q&A’s with senior site staff including the site manager, while a number of students are completing a range of one-week work placements with various contractors employed on the site.
• Almost 75% of those working on the construction of Miller’s Quay live within a 25-mile radius.
• Through CRE-8, a pre-employment programme aimed at supporting local people into construction jobs, 10 people were placed on jobs across the site in September 2023, with 5 leading to full time employment with a range of sub-contractors. A further 10 people from CRE-8 are onsite in November 2023.
• In partnership with Liverpool John Moores University and their Industry Advisory Panel, over 20 construction and project management students have visited the site and had Q&A with the site manager as part of their studies.
• Pupils from several Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools on the Wirral have visited the site and taken part in a full site tour.
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said:
Regeneration is not just new buildings but also the extra benefits it brings to our communities including jobs, investment, education and training opportunities. As a council, we have always been clear that the regeneration work taking place in Wirral now and in the coming years will deliver on every level for the people of Wirral.
I’m pleased to see the commitment of those carrying out the building work to ensuring it delivers for local workers, students and the surrounding communities.
The Miller’s Quay team have also engaged with and supported the local community in a number of ways: -
• Over £10,000 has been donated to Wirral Foodbank, thanks to various fundraising events, including a staff golf day, a Christmas jumper day and an Easter egg hunt.
• A team from Miller’s Quay helped nearby St Joseph’s Primary School to remove and replace old seating from the playground.
• At Egremont Primary School a team from Miller’s Quay helped to create a new space within the grounds, including seating, a mud kitchen and a bug hotel.
• The Miller’s Quay team has formed a partnership with Recipro, a local Wirral organisation which sells discounted decorating and DIY supplies which have been donated by local contractors. A monthly collection from Miller’s Quay ensures that any unused building materials can be used by local people, reducing waste.
• The project team has also selected a number of local charities in the Wirral area to support through financial donations.
• GRAHAM was pleased to donate to the Tranmere Rovers’ Super White Christmas Appeal, sponsoring its Adult’s Christmas Party and Matchday Experience at Prenton Park in December. The donation provided 70 adults experiencing loneliness, homelessness or those needing some festive cheer with a hot meal, gift set and match ticket.
• Miller’s Quay supply chain partners, including FK Facades, Oakleaf, HE Simm and Floor Form, donated to the Come Together Christmas Appeal. The funds raised purchased gas and electricity cards, Tesco food vouchers, and new toys and clothes for families who need a helping hand in these hard times across Liverpool and the North West.
Following an inspection in the summer, Miller’s Quay has also scored full marks (45/45) in the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which covers three main areas - Respect for Community, Care for the Environment, and Valuing the Workforce.
Wirral Waters’ developer, Peel Waters, and its funding partner, Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), along with construction firm GRAHAM, Homes England, and Wirral Council have all been instrumental in the delivery of Miller’s Quay.
Wirral Waters is part of Peel Waters, a UK wide portfolio of vibrant and innovative, waterfront developments, delivering large-scale, sustainable regeneration projects, creating jobs, economic growth, new homes and new public realm across the country.
Richard Mawdsley, Development Director, Wirral Waters, said:
GRAHAM has been aligned with us on Miller’s Quay from the very beginning and the positive, long-term impact this development is having is clear to see. We have lots more to do as the construction continues and we look forward to sharing more in the coming months on the steps we are taking to ensure that this development, and others at Wirral Waters, are opening up opportunities and delivering tangible social value to the community.
Peter Reavey, Regional Director at GRAHAM, added:
We are delighted that the Miller’s Quay development team has been able to support these inspirational local charities that deliver such a positive impact to the Wirral community. We hope our donations will be able to further enhance the fantastic work they do.
James Agar, Head of Long Income at Pension Insurance Corporation, said:
Miller’s Quay has seen the creation of considerable social value through jobs and education. It is an outstanding example of what can be achieved by a group of forward-thinking, innovative and committed teams working together with a shared vision. PIC has invested £1.5 billion so far in built environment projects around the country, and we look forward to investing considerably more as our business continues to grow and we seek to back the pensions of our policyholders with long-term, secure cashflows.
