Wirral town could lose out on nearly £11m if delay 'does persist'

Wirral could run into difficulties delivering the regeneration of one of its town centres if a delay over releasing the funding continues, according to its local authority. Wirral Council was awarded £10.7m back in November 2023 to support a revamp of Liscard.

Liscard was one of 55 projects across the country to have been selected to receive cash from round three of Levelling Up grants though the amount given by the government fell short of what the council asked for by £1.3m. Councillors decided to plug this gap back in January to help move the project forward.

When the funding was announced, Wirral Council was told it would have to confirm the initial bid will still benefit from government funding, show the project is still deliverable by March 2026 and continues to represent value for money in order to qualify. However a recent regeneration report said the project was “in doubt” because of ongoing talks with the government over a revised agreement for the funding.

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The agreement, called a memorandum of understanding, is non-binding but sets out what Wirral Council plans to do with the funding and how the local authority and the government will work together. The agreement is needed so work can begin moving a number of different projects forward including a new community hub, new homes on Seaview Road car park, and other improvements to the town centre.

In response to when the government might respond, council officers said no date had been given but they had made the government “aware that we will run into delivery problems if this does persist.” It’s understood the government will set out further details in due course in relation to funding.

Of the three projects, a timeline has only been given for one, which would see a number of improvements to the town’s high street with construction work expected to take place between June and October 2025. The project is expected to be complete by March 2026.

However no timeline has been given for the new community hub or redevelopment of Seaview Road car park. Of the £765,672 awarded for both of these projects so far, zero pounds had been spent by July while £22,219 has been spent on developing plans to improve the town centre.

In December 2023, people along the town's high street told the ECHO they wanted to see a wider variety of shops, streets cleaned, antisocial behaviour tackled, and pavements and roads improved as part of investment into the town. There were also calls for a new community hub.

The bid was also welcomed by both political parties represented in the Wallasey area. Wirral Council leader Cllr Paul Stuart, said: "This is fantastic news for Liscard, which is one of the borough's key shopping areas and town centre sites,” adding: “I am pleased that the government has looked at it again and realised what an excellent set of proposals Wirral Council had put forward to help give Liscard town centre the extra help it deserves.”

Liscard councillor Janette Williamson, said: "Liscard is on the up, it is seeing more and more independent businesses base themselves here, and this will go a long way to giving local traders and residents a well-deserved boost of confidence."

Wallasey councillor Councillor Ian Lewis said he was pleased at long last the council “realised that something must be done and that the government has agreed to back them,” adding: “I would hope now that this £10.7m won’t be wasted on branding and logos, but will be the start of genuine regeneration of the area."