First picture of £10.5m hotel plan for West Kirby marina revealed

Jun 21 2008

PLANS for a £10.5m hotel and sailing school at a Wirral seaside resort will be put before the public next week.

The people of West Kirby are being invited to have their say on Carpenter Investments’ proposals to develop a new sailing school and four-star boutique hotel.

The Merseyside-based company, chosen by Wirral Borough Council, will be unveiling layouts and details of the scheme at a public exhibition on Thursday.

Cllr Adrian Jones, Mayor of Wirral, is launching the formal beginnings of the consultation phase at The Concourse Building.

West Kirby resident and founding director of Carpenter Investments Alan Beer said he was delighted the public consultation exercise was now under way.

He said: “It’s vitally important that local people are fully informed about these proposals. It’s a great opportunity for us to answer questions and also listen to the views and comments that are expressed during this consultation process.

“This is a genuine consultation it’s not a detailed set of plans that just need to be rubber stamped

“We want as many people as possible to come along and help influence how the town may be developed in future.”

Mr Beer is keen to stress that this exhibition is only the beginning of a consultation process and that the public will have further opportunities to comment if the proposals are taken forward as a formal planning application.

He added: “As a responsible development company, we always want to engage with the public at every step of the way.

“As a West Kirby resident and member of this community, I want to deliver a development that will be a enhance the town and be a positive benefit for visitors and local people.”

In January, the Liverpool Daily Post revealed the wide-ranging development will also provide the waterfront town with a new water sports centre.

The present 43-year-old sailing school on the Marine Lake will be replaced and a hotel is planned for the Dee Lane car park site.

The footprint of the current sailing school will provide the basis for a brand new sailing centre will have an information centre for Hilbre Island, a separate boat storage building, shop and cafe.

Parking will be retained by building underground according to the company.

It will all be housed in a single waterfront attraction, generating around 50 new jobs.

The architect behind the project, Christopher Egret, was part of the team behind the winning design for the Fourth Grace in Liverpool and sits on the Royal Institute of British Architects Trust Board.

Students from Hilbre High School, West Kirby, will also be attending the exhibition opening to present the Mayor with their “My Town Too” manifesto – a document detailing how they want their town to look.

They have already been involved in the consultation exercise having been among the first to be asked their opinions on how the town should be redeveloped.

Display boards will be open to the public at The Concourse until Saturday June 28 inclusive from 11am until 7pm each day.

Officers from Wirral Borough Council will be on hand to answer any queries.