The wirral Waters one proposal is a joint venture between The Council and land owners Peel Holdings and includes The Legacy Foundation (£100,00 in the first year).
I was under the immpresion the cash strapped asset rich council would provide land and the likes of Peel the cash.

Peel don't spend their own money, the land was virtually given to them when they took over the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board/Company.

The pre-development costs are often provided by council and various grants. They are renowned for raking money out of councils then doing virtually nothing or worse still the Council have spent so much money that there is no return and Peel start making demands or different plans that the Council daren't turn down. Peel and Salford Council are at near permanent war after tactics that appeared that way.

As with most developers/builders, they don't build until they have firm buyers or leasers unless its a certain profit maker.

It amazes me that firms that operate heavy tax avoidance are allowed to be given grants, they rake the money in both ways.

HERE is one of many articles on them.

On BBC News last night:

Cabinet backs plan for 'Wirral Waters One' housing development
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/1..._Wirral_Waters_One__housing_development/

With reference to your link DD . You can just see all these dodgy links and practices being looked at with pseudo astonishment by the powers that be in the future when one way or another , chickens one day come home to roost big time. Why is Karma always on the slow bus.

Another one kept under wraps for the big unveil.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/wirral-trying-make-international-trade-11034120

It was declared the other day (very quietly) that even this small deal has fallen through. They were warned by numerous people that Stella Shiu and the Sam Wa company were very dodgy. Even Private Eye has looked into them a few times and found no money of substance.

HERE

Just found out the link is old news, but interesting reading and an insight of The Councils business acumen.

Sadly this isn't an isolated case. There have been stalled or failed Chinese investments in Liverpool and Sheffield too.