Liscard Affordable Housing Plans Move Forward in Wirral 2026

Key Points

• It looks like plans for affordable housing in Liscard are set to progress following the decision of Wirral Council to find a development partner.
• The housing proposal may see the provision of up to 100 units of affordable homes on the former Liscard Municipal Building and adjacent car parking area.
• The project forms part of a broader regeneration scheme that will include public realm upgrades, shop fronts upgrade and community facilities.
• Demolition of the former municipal building and community centre has already taken place after years of neglect, vandalism and complaints regarding the poor state of the site.
• The demolition project is valued at just above £500,000 and contractor J. Freeley Limited has done the job.
• Construction of the housing is due to start in 2027, pending the procurement, planning process and a development partner being appointed.
• The overall regeneration plan is funded through £10.78 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 3 and £1.2 million from the Wirral Council.
• According to planning documents published by the Wirral Council, the former municipal buildings site can accommodate up to 100 homes.
• The regeneration plan aims to benefit the Liscard town centre, enhance facilities and build affordable rental homes.

Wirral Council (Liverpool standard) September 22, 2026 — Birkenhead News reported that Wirral Council was preparing to take the next step towards delivering up to 100 affordable homes in Liscard town centre. The council is expected to seek a development partner for the former municipal buildings and adjacent car park site, which has been cleared to make way for housing and wider improvements.

The proposed homes form part of a broader regeneration programme designed to improve Liscard’s high street, provide new community facilities and bring disused brownfield land back into use. Housing construction is currently expected to begin in 2027, although the timetable will depend on the procurement process, planning requirements and the appointment of a suitable partner.

The development site is located around Seaview Road and Egerton Grove, close to the former Liscard Municipal Building and Community Centre. Wirral Council’s planning documents allocate the former municipal buildings site for 100 homes, while the wider Liscard Regeneration Area is expected to accommodate at least 200 dwellings during the local plan period.

What are the Liscard housing plans?

The scheme is intended to deliver up to 100 new homes, with the council describing the proposed properties as affordable and high quality.

As reported by Birkenhead News, Wirral Council said the homes would provide “a unique opportunity to redevelop the disused land and provide much needed affordable, quality housing within Liscard town centre”.

A procurement summary for the opportunity states that the council is seeking a lead development partner for a housing-led brownfield scheme. The minimum requirement is understood to be at least 93 homes, with the site’s capacity estimated at approximately 100 properties. The opportunity is also intended to provide 100 per cent affordable housing for rent.

The proposed housing would be accompanied by improvements to links between the site and Liscard Village. The intention is to ensure that the development contributes to the wider town centre rather than operating as a standalone housing project.

Wirral Council’s adopted and emerging planning documents identify the former municipal buildings on Seaview Road as site RES-RA9.1. The site has a minimum capacity of 100 dwellings, while the broader regeneration area is expected to provide a minimum of 200 homes through the local plan period.

Why was the former building demolished?

The former Liscard Municipal Building and Community Centre had been disused and boarded up for several years. A council decision notice said the buildings had attracted regular vandalism, creating an ongoing cost for the local authority.

Birkenhead News reported that Wirral Council approved J. Freeley Limited as the demolition contractor in January 2025. The contract was valued at just under £500,000, and the demolition was expected to take approximately 18 weeks.

The work was scheduled to begin in April 2025. BBC reporting said the buildings on Egerton Grove were regarded by local representatives as an eyesore and that their removal would clear the way for the proposed housing scheme.

Place North West later reported that Freeley had completed the demolition of the former municipal building. Neil Tague, writing for Place North West on 14 August 2025, said the site had been cleared for redevelopment and was allocated for housing under Wirral Council’s brownfield-only Local Plan.

The demolition was therefore presented as an enabling stage in the wider project. Clearing the site does not itself guarantee that construction will begin, but it removes the former buildings and allows the council to progress towards selecting a development partner.

When could construction begin?

Wirral Council has indicated that housing construction could begin in 2027.

The date is not a confirmed completion or occupation date. Before building work can begin, the council must progress the procurement process, appoint a development partner and deal with planning and design matters.

Birkenhead News reported that the council would soon look for a development partner to deliver the homes. Place North West also said that a procurement process was due to begin later in 2025.

The timing may therefore change depending on the outcome of the procurement exercise, planning approval, funding arrangements and the final design of the scheme.

A council report cited in Wirral’s planning documents previously anticipated that the earliest housing completions on the former municipal buildings site could occur during the 2025/26 period. However, subsequent reporting placed construction expectations in 2027, reflecting the fact that the project still requires further development and delivery stages.

How is the wider regeneration funded?

The housing plans are part of an investment programme worth more than £12 million.

Place North West reported that the Liscard Levelling Up Fund Round 3 programme includes £10.78 million from the government, matched by £1.2 million from Wirral Council’s capital programme. Birkenhead News and the BBC described the overall programme as involving around £12 million in government and council funding.

The funding is intended to support more than housing. The regeneration programme includes:

• A new community facility.
• Improvements to parts of Liscard Way.
• Public-realm works in the town centre.
• Improvements to shop fronts and commercial premises.
• Measures intended to improve the appearance and attractiveness of the high street.
• New housing on the former municipal buildings and adjacent car park site.

The council has previously said that funding would also be directed towards local businesses to help improve the appearance of the area. Birkenhead News noted that similar work had been undertaken on Argyle Street and Market Street in Birkenhead.

The proposed improvements are intended to address several challenges affecting Liscard and other town centres, including vacant or deteriorating buildings, reduced footfall and the changing role of high streets.

What has Wirral Council said?

Wirral Council leader Cllr Paul Stuart described the progression of the project as a significant milestone.

As reported by Birkenhead News, Cllr Stuart said the council would work closely with the community while developing the plans, with the aim of creating “a more resilient, prosperous Liscard”.

He also said the site was the latest part of Wirral’s wider regeneration programme to take a major step forward and that it demonstrated the council’s continued commitment to its plans.

Place North West quoted Cllr Paula Basnett, leader of Wirral Council, after the demolition had been completed. She said there was “real momentum building in Liscard” but that the challenge was to continue moving forward so that residents, businesses and shoppers could see lasting improvements.

Cllr Basnett added that the regeneration was about more than construction and should create a welcoming town centre that worked for the wider community.

Local councillors have also welcomed the removal of the former building.

Birkenhead News reported that Cllr James Laing called the demolition “excellent news”, saying that the site had been an eyesore and had attracted antisocial behaviour. Cllr Janette Williamson described the development as a positive step following years of efforts to secure greater investment in Liscard town centre.

Cllr Graeme Cooper said that residents had raised concerns about the site and that up to 100 homes could be built there. He linked the proposed housing to the council’s aim of creating a more active and vibrant town centre.

What other town-centre improvements are planned?

The housing scheme is being developed alongside improvements to Liscard’s public spaces and community infrastructure.

Place North West reported that the council had closed a consultation on proposed improvements at Mother Redcap Place. The next stage was expected to involve the production of a detailed RIBA Stage 3 design, followed by further public engagement.

The Liscard Neighbourhood Framework is being used as a guiding document for the area’s regeneration. Earlier planning material for the framework identified potential capacity for approximately 100 to 130 apartments, although the final number and design will depend on the approved development proposals.

The council has also been working with local organisations through the Liscard Together Partnership, formally launched in June 2024, according to Place North West.

The wider approach is intended to connect new housing with improvements to the town centre, public spaces and community facilities. This means that the final impact will depend not only on the number of homes delivered but also on the quality of the links, services and public areas around them.

What are the main issues still to be resolved?

The proposed development remains subject to several practical stages.

Wirral Council must appoint a development partner capable of delivering the required affordable housing. The partner will also need to prepare detailed plans, work through planning requirements and establish how the homes will be built and managed.

The number of homes may also differ from the headline figure of 100. Council documents refer to a capacity of approximately 100 homes, while the procurement information identifies a minimum requirement of at least 93 properties.

The final scheme could be influenced by site constraints, design requirements, access arrangements, car-parking provision, environmental considerations and the relationship between the housing site and the wider town centre.

The council will also need to continue engaging with residents, businesses and community organisations. Earlier reporting indicated that residents would be asked for their views on aspects of the high-street improvement plans.

The regeneration is taking place against the wider difficulties faced by many British town centres. Birkenhead News reported that Liscard continued to face challenges similar to those affecting high streets across the country, while the condition of vacant and damaged buildings had added to concerns about the town centre’s appearance and safety.

What is the background to the Liscard affordable housing plans?

Liscard’s proposed housing development forms part of the area’s longer-term regeneration strategy.

Wirral’s local planning documents identify a regeneration area expected to provide at least 200 dwellings during the plan period. The former municipal buildings on Seaview Road are allocated for 100 homes under site reference RES-RA9.1, with additional housing expected through other development opportunities.

The scheme follows the council’s decision to demolish the former municipal building and community centre, which had remained unused and attracted vandalism. The demolition was carried out by Freeley under a contract worth just under £500,000.

The wider regeneration programme received funding through the third round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund. The programme also includes council investment and is intended to improve the public realm, support local businesses, provide community facilities and strengthen Liscard town centre.

The next major stage is the appointment of a development partner. If that process is completed successfully, detailed planning and delivery work can continue ahead of the expected start of housing construction in 2027.

How could the plans affect Liscard residents?

The development could increase the supply of affordable rented housing in Liscard and bring long-term residential use to a site that had previously been vacant and associated with vandalism.

For local residents, the effect will depend on whether the homes are delivered in line with the council’s affordable-housing objectives and whether the wider public-realm and community improvements are completed alongside them.

New residents could increase demand for nearby shops, services and public transport. That may support town-centre activity, although it could also create additional pressure on parking, roads, local services and public spaces if these issues are not addressed through the final design.

The redevelopment could also improve the appearance of the area by replacing a disused municipal complex with occupied homes. However, the benefits will not be immediate. Construction is not expected to start until 2027, and the final timetable remains dependent on procurement, planning and development arrangements.

For businesses and shoppers, the housing scheme is likely to have the greatest value if it is delivered together with the planned high-street, shop-front, community and public-space improvements. A coordinated programme could help increase regular footfall, but the housing proposal alone cannot determine the future performance of Liscard town centre.