The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Wirral Council are collaborating on a major project to transform the area into a lively and distinctive waterfront destination, with the £8.6m Woodside Ferry Terminal upgrade set to commence soon.
Wirral Council is consulting on a £23m Masterplan to rejuvenate the area, which is enabling the upgrade thanks to Levelling Up funding.
Complex engineering work has been carried out to install a new landing stage and linkspan bridge, with the aim of reopening the terminal from summer 2025. The Seacombe Ferry Terminal has been modernised at a cost of millions of pounds, thanks to a £7m investment from Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority. This modernisation project was completed in October 2022. The Woodside development is just one part of a larger investment programme aimed at securing the future of this iconic tourist attraction.
In December of last year, Mayor Rotheram signed a £26m contract with Cammell Laird, a shipyard in nearby Birkenhead, to construct the first new Mersey Ferry in six decades.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“The Woodside Ferry Terminal was constructed in 1985, it’s almost 40 years old and in need of modernisation so we’re able to keep up with the needs of a growing and diverse population. This is a great opportunity for us to improve the area for residents however, it’s also a prime time to start encouraging even more tourists to explore the other side of the water by bringing Mersey Ferries back to the area and restoring the service between Woodside and Pier Head, improving the transport links for residents and visitors alike.”
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said:
“We’re excited about the next stage of plans to develop the Woodside Ferry Terminal. This latest regeneration will include developing the space from Argyle Street/Conway Street roundabout down to the Terminal and include improving the landscaping around the area. It will also create more accessible walking and cycling spaces and better connections between the Central Birkenhead retail area and the Waterfront, for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users.
“In addition to the plans which are to be delivered over the next couple of years, part of the process in drafting the masterplan has been to generate new ideas to be implemented in the longer term such as the extra-large floating pontoon or a historic ship in the dock as part of a visitor attraction. The consultation, which is open now, is giving everyone to the chance to view these proposals and have their say and we’re encouraging everyone to take part.”
READ MORE: WOODSIDE’S WATERFRONT TRANSFORMED BY INDEPENDENT MARKETS
