BirkenEd’s Place – Dock Branch Engagement and Activities
13th February 2023
Over the past week, we have been delivering engagement for the exciting Dock Branch project in BirkenEd’s Place. The project was initially shared in BirkenEd’s Place in November 2022 and is back for its second phase of engagement until 18th February. At this second stage, we’re sharing what we’ve heard so far, how that has shaped the scheme to date, and presenting ideas that are developing. The Dock Branch project will create a new well-connected green neighbourhood in central Birkenhead with the potential to deliver around 1,200 new homes. This new neighbourhood will be centred around a linear public park on the former Dock Branch railway line, and a Heritage attraction called ‘The Transport Shed’, which will house National Museum Liverpool’s impressive transport collection. In our second phase of engagement for Dock Branch, we are asking the public about what kind of changes they want to see delivered over the next few years, and what sort of services, businesses, and community activities they would like to see in this future Birkenhead neighbourhood. In our activity, ‘Cooking up a Neighbourhood’, we are exploring some of the key themes of the Dock Branch project and asking for the public’s feedback on these i.e., ‘getting around’, ‘health and well-being’, and ‘sustainability’. There is also the opportunity to watch a video of the site that is being developed into Dock Branch. If you can’t make it to us to see this second phase of Dock Branch engagement, there is still the chance to participate in some online engagement. Click here to be taken to Wirral Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ page for Dock Branch Neighbourhood.
On Saturday 18th February, we will be hosting a free walking conversation with Mark Leitner-Murphy of Maccreanor Lavington (architects) and members from OPEN (landscape), focusing on the Dock Branch Neighbourhood. You can sign up to the walking conversation event here. Participants will meet at BirkenEd’s Place at 12:30pm and walk to the site, follow the route around the project area (1pm-2pm) and come back to BirkenEd’s Place for discussion, tea, and cake. The Dock Branch Neighbourhood masterplan is still in the early stages, but the architects Maccreanor Lavington would like to hear more about what people think a new neighbourhood should be like, the mix of uses and activities that could be appropriate, what the issues in the area are and how you think the area could be developed in the future. Not a typical walking tour – we’d like to invite you on a walking conversation to discuss the area, the future and what you want to get out new development.
Thank you to all our volunteers who have kindly offered their time, supporting us in BirkenEd’s Place this past week – Hannah Nixon, Hannah Austin, Malachy Buck, Damian Garner, Eleanor Scrafton, and Luke Bithell.