Millers Quay, Wirral for Peel Waters with Howells, Pension Insurance Corporation, Wirral Council, Homes England and GRAHAM

Millers Quay, Wirral for Peel Waters with Howells, Pension Insurance Corporation, Wirral Council, Homes England and GRAHAM

 

Millers Quay is a landmark £130m waterfront residential development at Wirral Waters, featuring 500 highly sustainable one- and two-bedroom apartments. Delivered by Peel Waters in partnership with Pension Insurance Corporation, Wirral Council and Homes England, it has redefined urban living in the Liverpool City Region through its bold architecture, environmental design and deep community engagement. Combining affordable homes, sustainability and social value, Millers Quay sets a new benchmark for regeneration-led housing in the UK.

 

 

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community? 

 

Millers Quay sits at the heart of Wirral Waters – one of the UK’s most exciting regeneration projects – transforming 500 acres of former dockland into a new mixed-use waterside community. The surrounding area had suffered decades of decline and deprivation, characterised by derelict industrial land, low employment, and limited quality housing. Millers Quay marks a fundamental shift in that narrative.
 
The building provides 500 new homes, 20% of which are affordable, helping to meet local housing need while creating a new, inclusive neighbourhood. Designed to foster community interaction, it includes generous south-facing balconies, dockside walkways and micro parks connecting residents with green and blue spaces.
 
The project’s purpose goes beyond housing: it is a catalyst for social and economic renewal. It has created more than 1,000 local construction jobs, invested £44m in local supply chains, and generated £31m in Social Economic Return on Investment. Partnerships with Wirral Met College and Liverpool John Moores University have provided training, apprenticeships, and research opportunities, nurturing future construction talent.
 
Millers Quay’s success has already inspired further investment in Wirral Waters, including new leisure, employment and infrastructure schemes. It is a building with genuine community impact – both in its making and its ongoing life.

 

Is the project innovative or creative in its design or purpose? What does it do well in terms of serving its people?  

 

Millers Quay was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of Birkenhead’s maritime heritage – a “new picture postcard for Wirral.” Design was procured through an architectural competition and informed by Places Matter Design Review. Architects Howells reimagined the dockside warehouse aesthetic through expressive façades and vibrant metalwork, creating a distinctive skyline and a strong sense of place.
 
The orientation and linear footprint of each building ensures that every home has a view of the water and enjoys ample daylight. A simple, yet robust approach towards detailing has been employed using a limited palette of materials. Elevations have been articulated by the use of modern construction technologies, utilising a range of metal cladding textures to provide further differentiation within the development.
 
Innovation lies in how the design connects residents with the water and public realm. Generous balconies, landscaped courtyards, and open waterfront invite people to linger, meet and walk. The design encourages natural surveillance, safety and wellbeing, while promoting active travel. Millers Quay is also a good neighbour: it reopens dockside access to the public for the first time in over a century and provides new routes and green connections linking existing communities with the waterfront. Sustainability and inclusivity underpin every aspect – from accessible design standards to the integration of affordable homes alongside private rental apartments. Its placemaking success has been recognised by multiple awards, including the Housing Design Awards 2025. Residents describe the community as “vibrant, peaceful, and proud of its place by the water”.

 

Please describe the programme of the building, and how its design serves this use. Please also explain whether the future viability of this use has been considered. How might the building be repurposed to other uses? 

 

Millers Quay features 500 highly sustainable one- and two-bedroom waterfront apartments. Millers Quay is a build to rent scheme that includes 20% affordable apartments. The layout maximises daylight, views and ventilation, with most apartments enjoying water or courtyard vistas. The Pavillion, available to all residents, includes co-working and social spaces, in addition to a well-equipped gym.
 
The programme was developed to create a mixed, multi-tenure community within a managed rental framework that guarantees long-term stewardship. The inclusion of 20% affordable apartments, indistinguishable in design and finish from market units, promotes integration and equality. Sustainability features include a range of energy efficient and low carbon technologies to reduce carbon emissions, including solar power systems and air source heat pumps. Millers Quay’s tenure mix, management model and robust design ensure its continued relevance, supporting Wirral Waters’ long-term regeneration vision.