Bromborough Wharf

Welcome to our public consultation for a new riverside community in Bromborough

Grammont Group and Bromborough Riverside Regeneration Ltd are planning to create a thriving new riverside community – Bromborough Wharf.

Our plans will transform a brownfield site into a residential-led scheme, including up to 1,200 new high-quality homes, accommodation for older people, community greens and public open spaces and new transport infrastructure in this part of Bromborough.

Located on land off Dock Road South in Bromborough, the brownfield site has been identified in the latest draft of Wirral Council’s Local Plan as a preferrable location for a new housing community.

We invite you to view our proposals and provide your feedback for Bromborough Wharf. Please browse this website for more information on our draft plans, and you can find out more about how to submit your feedback here. All feedback received by Wednesday 6^th April 2022 will help to shape the final plans before our application is submitted to Wirral Council.

Webinar

We will be holding a webinar on Wednesday 30^th March 2022 between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. If you would like to register for the webinar, please visit here

Background

Wirral Council’s Draft Local Plan

As with many places across the country, Bromborough and the Wirral have a growing need for new housing. As part of its draft Local Plan, the Wirral has a requirement to deliver 13,000 new homes by 2037, which includes building around 835 homes every year. Wirral Council has identified our site in the latest draft of the Local Plan as a preferable location for a new housing community.

A shortage of developable land has been identified, and the Council is considering a number of options for increasing the housing land supply including releasing surplus employment land, building on the Green Belt and increasing the density of development (amongst others). We consider that a blended approach of methods will be the most realistic way to achieve the appropriate level of development whilst minimising Green Belt release where possible.

Supporting the Council’s ambition to have a brownfield first approach for new housebuilding, our proposals aim to redevelop an unused industrial site, previously used for engineering and chemical works, into an attractive, riverside community.

The Site

The 23.5-hectare area of land is under two ownerships and is located within the Wirral Peninsula, to the east of Bebington and to the north of Eastham. It borders the River Mersey shore line to the east and has open views to the north and east of Eastham. The current land use is a mix of derelict industrial buildings and brownfield open space.

The land at Bromborough Wharf is currently allocated for employment uses within the Adopted Wirral Unitary Development Plan (UDP), however the Wirral Employment Land and Premises Study published in 2021 recommended the land is no longer viable for core employment uses and other uses should be considered. This position is endorsed through the proposed allocation of the site within the new Draft Wirral Local Plan for residential development.

With Bromborough Wharf, our vision is to limit building on the Green Belt and create a mixed-use development that will stand the test of time, providing a new, thriving community right on the River Mersey.

Location

Our site is located off Dock Road South, Bromborough. The site benefits from excellent access to a wide range of services, amenities and the M53. These include (but are not limited to):

Port Sunlight train station (1.58km) and Spital train station (1.6km), providing direct access to Liverpool Lime Street in around 20 minutes;
Woodslee Primary School (1.5km);
South Wirral High School (4km);
Wirral International Business Park; and
A range of shops, leisure opportunities and a medical practice.

The site is situated within a suitable commuter distance by car and rail to Liverpool City Centre and John Lennon Airport. There are also existing bus routes within the existing residential areas to the North and West of the site. Regular buses operate from Port Causeway linking the site to the larger Wirral area.

Our Proposals

Our vision for Bromborough Wharf seeks to promote the redevelopment of the site for a high quality residential led development as part of the ongoing re-visioning of the wider Bromborough Pool area as a strong, successful and sustainable residential community.

Our proposals will deliver:

A vibrant new development on a site that has been identified as a potential housing allocation in the latest draft of the Wirral Local Plan;
Up to 1,200 high quality homes to meet a variety of needs to include a range of houses and apartments suitable for families, young couples and first-time buyers alongside specialist housing for older people with an aspiration to deliver up to 20% affordable housing (subject to viability);
A range of properties to meet a variety of local needs, offering everything from townhouses to semi-detached and detached homes, as well as waterside apartments;
Properties ideally located near local amenities, such as shops and services, as well as key public transport links;
Attractively landscaped river frontage for the entire community to use and enjoy, as well as enhance the setting and views of the adjacent Bromborough Pool Conservation Area;
Extensive public open space (approx. 3.0 hectares) that will be accessible to new and existing residents in the area;
Improved landscaping and planting across the development, including to preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the Coastal Zone;
A sustainable development that promotes new pedestrian and cycle routes to promote sustainable travel and active lifestyles;
Improved public transport access, with a sponsored bus route through the site to further reduce residents’ dependency on the car;
Investment of c. £155m brought together by two experienced businesses working together as ‘Master Developer’; Grammont Group, a property investment and development company, and Bromborough Riverside Regeneration Ltd;
An economic boost for businesses of around £80m with new residents shopping in and around the local area;
The creation of employment opportunities, with up to 190 direct jobs during construction, including apprenticeship, graduate or trainee opportunities;
Opportunities for local suppliers, with over 1,100 indirect jobs per year created during the construction phase;
Around £14.4m in tax revenue, including more than c.£1.35m in council tax per year for Wirral Council to support key local services and infrastructure; and
Infrastructure improvements, with access via upgraded points off Dock Road South to the north and Riverside Road to the south.

Our Vision

Our vision for Bromborough Wharf will unlock many community, economic and environmental benefits for local residents and for the wider borough.

Provide a wide range of high quality new homes that meets the Local Plan housing targets

Our proposals will deliver a housing mix that caters for all ages. We are planning around 1,200 new high-quality homes that will meet a wide range of local needs, including housing for first-time buyers, higher value family homes, waterside apartments and around 20% affordable homes (subject to viability). We are also looking at providing purpose-built accommodation for older people with access to care and support, which could also include a flexible ground floor space for the Bromborough community as a whole to use.

Deliver infrastructure improvements that connect new residents to the local area

Our plans will improve the connectivity and circulation of the local area. This will include infrastructure improvements, with access via upgraded points off Dock Road South to the north and Riverside Road to the south. The site is ideally located to deliver a new sustainable community, in close proximity to the M53 motorway, bus and train services, and essential local amenities.

Environmental Benefits

A sustainable riverside extension to the wider community

Bromborough Wharf will deliver lots of green and public open spaces, in addition to new planting, woodland and high quality landscaping throughout the development. A key part of our plans is to create a beautifully landscaped promenade overlooking the River Mersey, benefitting the health and wellbeing of the wider community. We also plan to improve access to Port Sunlight Park and Eastham Park, enhancing the setting and views of the Bromborough Conservation Area.

Encouraging sustainable and active travel travel

Our vision for the site includes new pedestrian and cycle routes to promote sustainable travel and active lifestyles, in addition to the installation of electric vehicle charging points. Furthermore, the delivery of a sponsored bus route through the site will further reduce residents’ dependency on car travel.

Economic Benefits

Delivering a significant and lasting economic benefit to the local community

Our plans will deliver c.£155m of investment, alongside a boost to spending in the local area by c.£80m. In addition, Bromborough Wharf will generate an additional c.£1.35m in council tax per year for Wirral Council to support key services and infrastructure.

Encouraging sustainable and active travel travel

Site Considerations

Mixed Tenure Homes and housing types that are affordable
Community spaces that embrace the natural environment
Strong cultural, recreational and shopping facilities
Creating a new Parkland promenade overlooking River Mersey
Integrated and accessible transport systems that improve connectivity and circulation
Connecting green amenity spaces, promoting healthy living and sustainability

In developing our vision we have undertaken a full assessment of the sites technical and environmental constraints to include accessibility, flooding and drainage, ecology, landscape and visual impact to inform the Masterplan which demonstrates the suitability of the site for a residential led development.

Ecology

A field survey for the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal has been undertaken and consisted of an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey. The habitats present within the ‘the site’ boundary consist predominantly of recently cleared vegetation and soil storage mounds on hard standing. Where vegetation is present, it is limited in extent and mostly confined to ‘the site’ boundaries or inert waste mounds to the south of the site.

As part of our proposals, we will engage with both the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) and Natural England to ensure that we minimise impact on nearby natural assets and wildlife habitats. We will also implement measures to prevent any indirect effects, through the creation of a biodiversity buffer to the eastern boundary along the River Mersey and to the south eastern boundary.

Transport & Highways

Due to its central and strategic location, Bromborough Wharf will encourage residents to take up public transport and active travel to get from A to B. The site area will link to existing local road infrastructure at the north and the south of the site, offers quick and convenient access to the M53 motorway as well as to a range of amenities.

Grammont Group and Bromborough Riverside Regeneration Ltd have proposed a sponsored bus route, alongside new pedestrian and cycle routes .

Flooding & Drainage

Our project teams for Bromborough Wharf have completed a Flood Risk Assessment as part of the planning application. The majority of the site resides in Flood Zone 1 and is of low risk of flooding. However, the north east corner of the site is located in Flood Zone 3a and is of higher risk of tidal flooding within a 1 in 200 year event. Therefore to reduce the tidal flood risk, the Bromborough Wharf site will be raised to over 8 metres above the average sea level.

Separate foul and surface water drainage solutions are proposed for each land ownership. Foul water drainage will be gravity fed and discharge into existing foul/combined sewers.

The scheme will also incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems – including pipes, tanks, permeable and permeable paving to help safely rainfall and surface water run-off.

This prudent and sustainable approach meets the requirements of a number of Policies, Strategies and Flood Risk Legislation.

Noise

The proposals for Bromborough Wharf will also include a full acoustic assessment for the site. The acoustic character of the site is mainly affected by distant road traffic noise from Thermal Road with low levels of road traffic on other local roads and Aircraft flyovers also contributing to the overall noise climate. The noise levels on the site are low and the site falls into the ‘Low’ risk category. We will mitigate the risk of noise by following a good acoustic design process including facade design, acoustic fencing and building orientation.

Heritage

Bromborough Wharf is located adjacent to Bromborough Pool, a heritage asset to Wirral. Although parts of the site are located within its buffer zone, the Bromborough Wharf development site is located outside of the Conservation Area.

It has also been identified that the Conservation Area’s character has been negatively impacted by the construction of large industrial sheds around it. The proposed Bromborough Wharf development seeks to reflect the design quality and material features of Bromborough Pool where possible, and to mitigate the future effects of large industrial premises on the Conservation Area by achieving a residential frontage to the development.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions about the proposals, please check below to view our frequently asked questions and answers. For all other questions, please visit Your Views for ways to submit your questions.

Where is the site?

The 23.5-hectare site is located in Bromborough Pool, east of New Chester Road and bordering the River Mersey shore line.

Why are you consulting?

Grammont Group and Bromborough Riverside Regeneration Ltd are committed to engaging with local residents and stakeholders about our plans for Bromborough Wharf. We strongly believe that only by working with the local community can we help to deliver what your area needs in the right way.

Our consultation will be live until Wednesday 6^th April, and all feedback submitted up until this time will be reviewed by the project team and incorporated into our plans, where possible. The results of our consultation will be summarised in a Consultation Report which will be included as part of the planning applications.

What types of properties are proposed?

Bromborough Wharf will deliver a housing mix that caters for all ages. We are planning around 1,200 new high-quality homes that will meet a wide range of local needs, including houses and apartments for families, young couples and first-time buyers. Our site will deliver a mixture of two- and three-story houses, that will include terraced, semi-detached and detached properties, in addition to four-storey apartments.

Are there any plans to provide affordable housing?

We aim to deliver up to 20% affordable housing (subject to viability), which will include a mix of housing types, both to buy and rent.

What impact will the proposals have on ecology and wildlife?

The existing habitat on the site is comprosed largely of bare earth and concrete hard stading with little to no ecologoical value. However, the site is located adjacenet to a number of statutory designated sites to include the Mersey Estuary Ramsar, Special Protection Area (SPA), and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and New Ferry SSSI. To mitigate any impact on the designated sites a bio-diversity buffer will be created along the interface with the River Mersey SSSI/SPA and to the south eastern boundary with the New Ferry SSSI. The design of the houses and landscaping in these areas will also look to minimise any disturbance to the designated sites through screening measures during construction and low lux lighting.

What are the economic benefits of the development ?

Delivering a c. £155m of direct investment as a result of the construction of the new homes and a further c. £80m of indirect spend during the 10 year construction period
Creating up to 190 construction jobs and a further 1,100 jobs through the supply chain
Generating an additional c.£1.35m in council tax per year for Wirral Council to support key services and infrastructure

How can I comment on the plans?

Grammont Group is a family run business operating in the industrial and residential sectors across the UK with a history spanning 44 years. With control of a large number of brownfield sites, the company looks at opportunities to create residential and mixed-use developments within its portfolio.

Focused on working with partners to deliver sustainable design and high quality development, the company is working on residential schemes across the country. Grammont Group has been involved with the Bromborough site since 2004 securing full control in early 2018 which has enabled the site to be brought forward for development.

About Us

Who is Grammont Group?

Grammont Group is a family run business operating in the industrial and residential sectors across the UK with a history spanning over 40 years. With control of a large number of brownfield sites, the company looks at opportunities to create residential and mixed-use developments within its portfolio.

Who is Bromborough Riverside Regeneration Ltd

Bromborough Riverside Regeneration Ltd and its UK development company Black Pearl Homes specialise in placemaking and creating sustainable communities. Focusing on complex regeneration projects, we work with local people and stakeholder to design vibrant communities where families can live and grow together.