Independent Review of Wirral’s Regeneration Programme published
An independent review into Wirral Council's regeneration programme has outlined a number of recommendations aimed at improving regeneration delivery and long-term strategy supported by revised governance arrangements.
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paula Basnett, welcomed the review, saying:
As Leader, I commissioned this review because I wanted an honest and independent assessment of where things had gone wrong, and where we needed to do better. That honesty is vital if we’re to rebuild trust and deliver for our residents.
The important thing now is how we move forward. We’ve taken steps to strengthen governance and improve the way we manage regeneration projects.
The Wirral 2040 Framework is ambitious and I will not apologise for that. Our borough deserves ambition.
The review, led by management consultants Aughton Lane, covered major regeneration schemes dating back to 2022. Its remit included examining the council’s governance, capacity and capability, and was intended to provide a clearer understanding of issues affecting the wider regeneration programme to guide future improvements.
The review found that “existing weaknesses in the Council approach preceding 2021/22” were exacerbated by financial pressures, and while the council was successful in securing Government funding, it “had not matured a delivery model that matched that ambition”.
Key issues identified include:
- unrealistic expectations
- an absence of any clear model for delivery
- confused processes for project monitoring and decision making
- high staff turnover
- significant failures of project and programme oversight
Despite this, the review concludes that “issues of recent years have been damaging but can be retrieved”.
Recommendations include:
- developing a new operating model for regeneration
- creating a clear vision and strategy for the long-term regeneration of the Left-Bank area
- establishing a specific recovery plan for Birkenhead
- improving operational governance using best practice from other councils
- adopting a cross-council working approach
- annually reporting on the wider socio-economic impacts of regeneration
- creating a formal Action Plan
Cllr Basnett added:
I’m confident that Wirral Council is working on building a stronger position to work with our partners across the public and private sectors to ensure that every investment delivers real results, new jobs, thriving businesses, quality homes, and stronger communities.
This is about learning lessons, restoring confidence, and building a more prosperous future for everyone in Wirral.
The full review is available on the council’s website as part of the agenda for the Policy and Resources Committee on November 19, where it will be considered by councillors.
