Birkenhead Waterfront preparatory works get underway
Preparations for a redesigned and improved road layout near Woodside are now underway pushing Birkenhead’s waterfront redevelopment into its next phase.
Wirral Council has been working on developing options to significantly upgrade the roads and public spaces around the waterfront and the surrounding areas.
The aim is to improve the connections between Birkenhead Town Centre retail area and the Woodside waterfront.
The project is intended to ultimately create welcoming focal points for people as they arrive in the area, whether that’s by car, ferry, bicycle, walking or wheeling, train or bus.
Following the unanimous decision to progress the plans by committee in June 2025, the redesigned roads would have initially seen up to 56 trees removed to allow works to take place but following detailed reviews this has now been reduced to 21 trees, including two rowans on the gyratory which are in poor condition.
Among those able to be retained are the nine Liquidambars – known as sweetgum – on Chester Street. Trees are only being removed where this is essential for the wider scheme to proceed and other options have been exhausted. Digging up and replanting has also been looked at but likelihood of survival is poor. However, the money spent on relocating trees that may not survive can be instead spent planting more trees and/or bigger trees and as part of the council’s Tree Strategy there will be a requirement to plant at least 66 new trees within the area meaning a net increase in tree cover.
The recommended changes will affect the following areas:
- Argyle Street (including Argyle Street/Conway Street roundabout);
- Hamilton Square;
- Hamilton Street;
- Woodside Gyratory / Woodside Bus Turnaround; and
- Woodside/Waterfront Promenade.
The proposals would also see improvements to the area around the ferry terminal the key viewing points across to Liverpool as well as at Hamilton Square Station, including a better interchange for public and other transport options.
