Life in 'shipping container' homes on banks of the River Mersey

On the banks of the River Mersey, a disused dockland has become home to a new and emerging community.

Arthur and Doreen Shaw were the first people to move into the new homes on Redbridge Quay in Seacombe two years ago. The couple's three storey townhouse sits on the north bank of Birkenhead's docks, and is part of what has been described as the largest regeneration project in the UK, Wirral Waters.

The 30 factory-built homes on Redbridge Quay include a mixture of white townhouses with terraces overlooking the docks, and red "row houses" which have been likened to "shipping containers" due to their distinctive design.

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Arthur, 68, told the ECHO: "We liked the design of the house. We were looking at these houses in Manchester six or seven years ago, and we wanted them to build one in Liverpool or around Liverpool.

"They were supposed to look like shipping containers because obviously, this is the port so there was lots of shipping going on here. You're just sitting there watching telly and the next minute a ship goes past your window - it's quite magical I think."

Peel Waters is the developer behind the Wirral Waters project which promises to deliver 20,000 new jobs, 13,000 new homes and create a business park on the Peninsula. Plans have also been put forward to create a new village with retail, restaurant and events space.

Arthur said: "I think it will be brilliant. It's going to totally transform the area, I think.

"It's just getting people used to this type of development. It's all quite modern and people are used to bog standard houses.

"These houses have been built in factories and the standard is so much better. It's very well insulated and we don't use a lot of energy in the winter."

The community on Redbridge Quay is growing as more people move into a mixture of privately owned and rented properties, with two-four bedrooms. Shared gardens sit between the red row houses, while a park is also based on the grounds.

When Debbie Wilkinson moved into the development with her family last April, she was keen to harness a sense of community. The 47-year-old, who is associate minister of Birkenhead Priory Parish church, told the ECHO: "We have the oldest standing building on Merseyside for the chapel and now we're living in one of the newest.

"We could easily have stayed where we lived in a traditional, four bedroom house, but it was really important to us to be part of the community we're trying to serve."

Debbie holds church services in the Peel's sales pavilion every Wednesday and Sunday, which people living in Redbridge Quay and the surrounding areas are welcome to attend. She also hosts a quiz night, communal meal and arts and crafts sessions on a monthly basis.

Debbie said: "As a church what we want to do is not just create a space for the worshipping community but for the community full stop. As that community grows it would be really good if we had a coffee shop or a place where our community can meet and do a knit and natter.

"It's part of what should be intrinsic when you're doing a new development."

From the front of Debbie's home you can see Liverpool Cathedral in the distance over the water, while the back looks out across the docks. She added: "Living on a working dock is really surprising. It was never a place I anticipated living but it's remarkably relaxing watching the ships come in."

The regeneration of the dock's north bank includes several developments including Redbridge Quay, Miller's Quay, and the Belong Village. House by Urban Splash went into administration in 2022 meaning Peel Waters had to take control of the development delivering the first 30 homes to the area.

500 apartments are currently under construction at Miller's which is expected to be complete in 2025. Carl Hurley has rented one of the red "row houses" on Redbridge Quay since January.

The 51-year-old, who grew up in Oxton, can see the potential the development has to offer to an area that is one of the most deprived parts of the county. Carl told the ECHO: "The place has got loads of potential - it's about time it was done.

"All of the people that live on the west side of Wirral probably come over and leave their cars here and go to Liverpool or go to Chester but they could be attracted to come here to spend their leisure time and live here."

With the homes being based on a main road, lorries frequently travel past to drop cargo off at the docks. While this isn't an issue for most residents who work during the day, Carl said it is something that may have to be considered going forward as the development grows.

Samuel Okori, 32, and Janet Adoyi, 28, moved from Coventry to Redbridge Quay in December 2023. Janet said: We like how it's not the regular kind of UK building.

"We like the fact it's newly built and the environment, how clean the area is. The building is energy efficient so when you heat up the place it retains the heat for a long period of time.

"The space is everything because we've just had a baby. We need space for the baby to play around so we've got enough for that."

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