Decision on changes to highways and public spaces around Woodside

16 June 2025

CGI of how Woodside could look

****UPDATE June 17****

Members of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee approved the proposals for Birkenhead Waterfront and Surrounds project, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, for implementation.

View the report here, including appendices at Item 8 and webcast for this item is available here.

Proposed major improvements to the roads and public spaces around Woodside and better travel connections from there into Birkenhead town centre via Argyle Street are set to be decided on by councillors.

Over the last couple of years Wirral Council has been working on options to significantly upgrade the roads and public spaces around the waterfront at Woodside and the surrounding areas.

This includes the area from and including the Argyle Street-Conway Street roundabout and down to Woodside Ferry Terminal to improve connections to and from the town centre.

Two previous public consultations have taken place to develop and refine the proposals, and now a report outlining the proposed changes, as well as updating on the third round of public consultation has been prepared. This report, which proposing the scheme for implementation is now to be presented to members of the council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee (June 16).

The recommended changes 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 project includes a new arrivals plaza on the waterfront to create an attractive open space to establish the Battle of the Atlantic Museum (currently under construction) and the listed Woodside ferry terminal building as welcoming focal points for people as they arrive in the area.

The proposals would also see a new events space adjacent to the ferry terminal and a remodelled arrival space at Hamilton Square Station, providing an interchange for public and other transport options, as well as opportunities to enjoy the key viewing points across to Liverpool.

If agreed by councillors the new spaces would see the retention of the existing heritage tramway, plus a modern children’s play area surrounded by space for families, and new areas of upgraded public spaces on Argyle Street, Hamilton Square and Hamilton Street including active travel infrastructure to improve walking, cycling and wheeling options. There would also be a net increase in trees, with the scheme currently proposing the current 195 trees in the development area be increased to 285 trees and although some existing trees will need to be taken away these have been carefully assessed. Trees would only be removed where this is essential for the wider scheme to proceed and all other options in relation to tree retention have been fully exhausted. The proposals will deliver a much more diverse treescape with thousands of additional plants, shrubs and bulbs brought in to increase urban wildlife and the changes contributing to improved temperature regulation, air quality, and water management.

The aim of the project is to improve the connections between Birkenhead Town Centre’s retail area and the Woodside Waterfront, helping to stimulate economic growth by increasing footfall, providing better transport infrastructure and the addition of more green spaces and public realm throughout the area. The section of works in the waterfront area will deliver on the first phase of the recently adopted Woodside Masterplan.

This project was first consulted on in spring 2023 and then in winter 2024 with a third and final phase of consultation in April 2025. The council’s project team reviewed the feedback received to amend the designs prior to the most recent Phase 3 statutory consultation on the specific highway changes.

While earlier consultations sought people’s views on the wider proposals and designs, this most recent consultation was statutory which means it is required to be carried out by law. Taking place between 2 April and 27 April 2025, it was aimed at both stakeholders such as local businesses and other organisations in the area as well as for the public across the borough specifically to seek their views on the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) required to allow for the delivery of the scheme.

A total of 40 people completed the questionnaire in that consultation on the proposed TRO changes, with 25% of respondents from within the Birkenhead and Tranmere Ward.

Opposition to proposed parking restrictions included concerns about the possible impact on local businesses, raised by some respondents to the Phase 3 consultation, and whether the restrictions would make it harder for businesses to receive deliveries or for customers to access shops and services, potentially harming trade.

However, surveys of parking in the area conducted in November 2024 and February 2025 indicate there is spare capacity, both on-street and off-street, to accommodate parking displacement associated with the scheme proposals. In addition, extensive traffic modelling have been undertaken during the design stages on the proposed junction changes and the scheme has been designed to accommodate all modes of transport, including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and buses.

The Birkenhead Waterfront and Surrounds scheme is not funded by council tax but from two main funding streams: Simplification Pathfinder Pilot (awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; and Levelling Up Fund administered via the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority). The money must be spent on these specific projects and if not then the council would have to return it to central government as it cannot be diverted to other purposes such as frontline council services.

Details of previous consultation on the Woodside Masterplan, including the full Masterplan and executive summary documents, can be found on the council’s Have Your Say site.