Dock Branch Park: £15m Birkenhead scheme update 2026

Key Points

• Wirral Council is finalising grant funding conditions for the £15m Dock Branch Park in Birkenhead before entering a construction contract.
• The project, inspired by New York’s High Line, was originally scheduled for completion in 2024 but has faced delays.
• The park will follow a disused railway line from Birkenhead’s docks to near Green Lane Merseyrail station, cutting through the town centre.
• The southern section is to be delivered first, featuring a shared walking and cycling route, seating, landscaping, tree planting, play features and a naturalistic woodland area.
• Funding comes from a £1.6bn pot allocated to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
• Site remediation is being carried out ahead of the main construction works.
• Earlier reports suggested the park could open by February or March 2027, with clearance work having begun in May 2022.
• The Dock Branch Park is described as “one of the most visual and high-impact features of the Birkenhead 2040 Framework”.

Birkenhead (Liverpool standard) August 01, 2026 — Plans for the £15m Dock Branch Park in uk/local/birkenhead/">Birkenhead have been discussed for a number of years, with the project having originally meant to be completed in 2024, but Wirral Council has now provided an update on the long-awaited New York City-inspired scheme. As reported by the Wirral Globe, a Wirral Council spokesperson said:

“The council is working with the funders to finalise grant funding conditions ahead of entering into a construction contract for the works, with the site remediation to prepare for this being carried out first.”

What is the Dock Branch Park and where will it be located?

The proposed linear park would follow the route of a disused Wirral railway line, linking Birkenhead’s docks to near Green Lane Merseyrail station, cutting through the town centre on the way. The green space would run along the old Dock Branch trainline, stretching from Tower Road to Green Lane train station, and is intended to eventually run from Green Lane to Wirral Waters. Inspired by The High Line in New York, the park is described on the council’s website as “one of the most visual and high-impact features of the Birkenhead 2040 Framework”. The local authority say the new Dock Branch Park would be “world-class” and “be a place where people, heritage, and nature intersect, connect and thrive.”

How is the Dock Branch Park being funded and delivered?

Funding for the project will come from a £1.6bn pot of funding given to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. A new Wirral park could be moving forward as part of this £1.6bn investment into the Liverpool City Region. Previous costs for the new park have been estimated to be around £15m, with £2.2m having been spent developing plans so far. The Dock Branch Park is a regeneration project being delivered by Wirral Council looking to transform a former railway line that cuts through central Birkenhead from Green Lane station to Wirral Waters.

What are the design features and planned sections of the park?

The park is split into two sections, the northern and southern sections. The southern section is to be brought forward first as part of the Borough Yard/Hind Street scheme and will feature a shared walking and cycling route. The southern section is proposed to include new seating areas, wayfinding points, landscaping, tree planting, play features, and a naturalistic woodland area with informal play opportunities. Access to the elevated route will be improved through level and sloped connections at key locations. The first stage of the project would be a 1.1km stretch from Tower Road near Wirral Waters to Argyle Street and could feature new landscapes, a cycle and walking route, gardens, and wildlife habitats. A new 1,200 capacity events space is also planned as part of the new park that will be connected to Future Yard, a live music venue, café, bar and arts space on Argyle Street. For now, the Dock Branch Park will run to Jackson Street due to issues with bridges in the northern section.

What is the current status and timeline for construction?

The council is working with the funders to finalise grant funding conditions ahead of entering into a construction contract for the works, with the site remediation to prepare for this being carried out first. A new report also said the council now has the title information to buy up the southern section of the park and a number of other steps have been taken. Plans for the southern section are making progress with the local authority in the process of buying it off Network Rail. Clearance work on the site began in May 2022 with completion estimated to be in early 2027. According to a report timeline, this work is expected to finish in December 2026 with the new park opening in March 2027. The brand new £15m Dock Branch Park could open by February 2027 according to a new report, having previously been expected to open at the end of 2024. Construction on Dock Branch Park was expected to start in autumn 2023, with the park set to be complete early in 2025, but these timelines have since been revised.

How does the park fit into wider Birkenhead regeneration plans?

The railway line is planned to be transformed into Dock Branch Park, a new linear park and active travel corridor identified as one of nine catalyst projects that form a key part of Wirral Council’s ambitious Birkenhead 2040 Framework. The park will become the centrepiece of Dock Branch, a new liveable neighbourhood in the heart of Birkenhead with potential for approximately 990 new homes. The area surrounding Dock Branch Park is described as a new neighbourhood having the potential to deliver around 1,200 new homes in the next 5-15 years. One of the plans that has been approved is the Dock Branch neighbourhood scheme, which is intended to run alongside the Dock Branch Park. The park and neighbourhood plans also hope to provide more natural habitat in the town centre as well as capitalise on leisure and cultural venues like Future Yard, Molly’s Chambers, the Northern Power House, Capitol Chinese restaurant, Sawasdee Thai restaurant, and the Wirral Transport Museum. It will also provide a new transport visitor attraction operated by National Museums Liverpool which links to the existing Wirral Transport Museum.

Background: How did the Dock Branch Park development evolve?

Plans for the £15m Dock Branch Park in Birkenhead have been discussed for several years, with the project originally scheduled for completion in 2024. Clearance work on the site began in May 2022 to allow essential surveys to be carried out. The inspiration for the park came from the High Line in New York, which is a popular tourist destination. PUBLIC consultation was held on how a “brand-new, world-class” public park planned for Birkenhead should look. The creation of an 800-metre linear park on the former Dock Branch Railway line in the town could begin next August, according to earlier consultations. Initial phases costing around £13 million, the park will eventually be over a mile long and will cover 30 hectares of land. The authority is planning to develop a £15 million park along the route, which has been dormant since the 1980s.

Prediction: How might this development affect Birkenhead residents and visitors?

The Dock Branch Park is positioned as a catalyst project within the Birkenhead 2040 Framework, with potential to deliver around 1,200 new homes in the next 5-15 years. As a linear park connecting Birkenhead’s docks to Green Lane station through the town centre, the development could improve active travel routes and provide new green space in an urban environment. The inclusion of seating areas, play features, landscaping and a naturalistic woodland area may offer recreational opportunities for local families and residents. The planned 1,200 capacity events space connected to Future Yard could support cultural activities and live music events in the area. The park is also intended to capitalise on existing leisure and cultural venues in Birkenhead, potentially contributing to the town’s regeneration alongside new housing developments. However, the project has already experienced delays from its original 2024 completion target, with current estimates suggesting opening in early 2027.