BUSINESS leaders have thrown their weight behind ambitious plans to regenerate Wirral’s docklands.

Peel Holdings, the firm behind the £4bn Wirral Waters scheme, is also poised to submit plans for a £100m International Trade Centre on Birkenhead’s waterfront.

A letter signed by 31 business leaders calls on the Government to continue supporting the plans.

It said Peel’s plans are “developments of such towering ambition that we hope they become our space race”.

It added: “That is why we want to call upon national Government to follow Wirral Council’s tremendous work and do all in its power to make these projects happen.

“As private sector bodies, we passionately want these initiatives to happen and believe our region needs them to happen.”

The letter was signed by John Syvret, of Cammell Laird; Jim Teasdale, of Mersey Maritime; and Mark McManus, of Stiebel Eltron; among others.

Wirral Council leader Jeff Green said the letter showed it was “great to see businesses realise just what a critical moment this is for the future of Wirral and the entire area”.