28 hectare extension to Wirral's 'new economic woodlands'

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and its partners have announced plans to expand their successful land regeneration scheme - 'Newlands at Bidston M oss' in Birkenhead, Wirral, developing an additional 28 hectares and growing the new community woodland to an impressive 68 hectares.

The Bidston Moss Project has been made possible after the NWDA committed £2.7 million of regeneration funding (April 2006), to transform a significant part of Birkenhead's derelict and underused land into an extensive public recreation space and community woodland. The investment will complement existing environmental works in the area, and raise economic, ecological and social outputs for Wirral.

Three additional sites will join the existing Bidston Moss Project - which is owned by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) - former Cross Lane tip, land adjacent to Bidston Golf Course and the Local Nature Reserve. All three extension sites are owned by Wirral Council. They are all situated to the west of the M53 motorway - forming one of the key gateway sites into the Liverpool City Region - and are close to the 'NewHeartlands' Housing Market Renewal area.

The environmental renaissance of the Bidston Moss Project extension will begin in early November 2006, enhancing this gateway to the area's largest conurbation, Liverpool, in time for its 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations and opening up opportunities to link the site to other attractions within the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park.

The Bidston Moss Project partnership includes the NWDA, Forestry Commission North West, Groundwork Wirral, The Mersey Forest, MWDA and Wirral Council.

To complement NWDA's multi-million-pound funding, additional financial support has been secured from EU Objective One money via the Mersey Forest to help ensure the sites' environmental improvements are sustained. This project has also been funded by Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.

Key developments will be to improve the aesthetics of the area to encourage new investment, controlling unauthorised motorcycle and car access, and encouraging community ownership through the increased provision of recreational, healthily living and environmental educational facilities as well as the establishments of natural visitor attractions.

The areas now in the project offer the greatest potential for impact with regards to the priorities of the Region's Economic Strategy.

All four Newlands sites across Birkenhead were carefully chosen following an intensive land survey, which used region-wide aerial photography to highlight the Northwest's area of derelict, underused and neglected (DUN) land.

Using a Public Benefit Recording System, designed to measure the public benefit that can be achieved through regeneration, all the DUN sites identified were assessed accordingly to social, economic and environmental factors. The areas chosen offer the greatest potential for impact with regards to the priorities of the Regional Economic Strategy.

Peter White, Executive Director of Infrastructure & Development at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said:

"The extension of Newlands at Bidston Moss will help to restore and secure the environmental quality of North Wirral, reaping benefits for the local community and beyond.

"The Forestry Commission's commitment to extend their expertise and management across an additional 28 hectares will help to bring about sustainable economic growth for this area, transforming the perceptions and creating a place where people want to live, work and invest."

Keith Jones, Conservator for Forestry Commission North West said:

"Bidston Moss is a key project for the economic and social regeneration of North Wirral, and by extending the site in this way, we are able to increase the impact on the whole of the Liverpool City Region, as well as provide a well planned and connected environmental resource for the people of Bidston.

"This investment by NWDA, and the foresight that they have shown in committing to the Bidston Moss project in this way demonstrates their commitment to long-term, sustainable regeneration and we will begin to see the impact over the next few weeks and months."

Said David Ball, Wirral Council's Head of Housing and Regeneration:

"This significant investment will create a high quality gateway to Wirral, providing both economic and social benefits.

"The foresight of all the partners is to be commended and significant benefits will be seen over the next few years."

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For more information, artist impressions, photography, interview and/or a visit the site, please contact:

Claire Rajah or Faith Ashworth at Creative Concern
Tel: 0161 236 0600

Notes to editors:
- Newlands stands for New Economic Environments through Woodlands.
- Newlands sites will be transformed into community woodlands through a unique partnership of the NWDA and Forestry Commission as well as a range of delivery partners, which include MWDA, Wirral Borough Council and Groundwork Wirral.
- A brownfield site is any land or premises that has previously been used and is not currently fully in use, although it may be partially occupied or utilised. It may also be vacant, derelict or contaminated. A brownfield site is not necessarily available for immediate use without intervention.
- Community Woodlands are multi-purpose open spaces that can be easily accessed by the local community, and can include a series of small woodlands, footpaths, cycle and bridleways, football pitches, wetland habitats and a wildflower meadow. Each site is designed in partnership with the local community to help improve and enhance the economic, environmental and social value of the local neighbourhood to work towards a sustainable environment for everyone.
- Using aerial photography, the National Land Use Database and/or Unitary Development Plans, the DUN Survey, which formed the basis for the selection of Newlands sites found an astonishing 3,800 DUN sites of more than one hectare across the Northwest and of this amount, 1,600 were highlighted as a brownfield sites.
- The Public Benefit Recording System (PBRS) uses a range of social, economic and environmental factors from proximity to a transport corridor or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) to a sites location to schools. It has won widespread approval across wider government and has already been used to tackle a number of other regeneration or development challenges.
- The project has been part funded by Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services. This totalled £510,204. In December 1997 Biffa Waste Services agreed to donate landfill tax credits to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) to administer under the fund name Biffaward. Grants made from the fund currently amount to more than £80 million, supporting many worthwhile environmental projects.
- £116,192 has been awarded to the project through the Integrated Countryside and Environment Plan, which is an Objective One Project part funded by the European Union. The Mersey Forest is working to deliver ICEP through Community Forestry.

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