The Neptune development entered its second stage before Christmas. The New Brighton front is rapidly changing.


This is the place to post your photos on the development of New Brighton.


http://www.neptunedevelopments.co.uk/devdocs/NEW%20BRIGHTON.pdf

Photo by: David Gennard from the globe

Photo by: David Gennard from the globe

Cheers Jase. Saves me popping down to take pics. I've only just returned from a trek in the snow and sleet to take pics in Wallasey Village!

cool pics....

No worrys bud. will get down there to get me own shots as the Development moves on.

wow I thought they were fake pics, has it really all been dug up?!?!?

It has mate yeah, the first six are computer generated pics bud,

Think I'll drive up there and take a look tomorrow.

wtf? no more racing/rallys then?

Wow! A Travelodge??? Guess it will be useful for the theatre.

We may be ok for this year - the main problem is the service area.

TBH its still up in the air wether it will happen in 2010...

Had a Look today

I might pop down tomorrow as the Marine Lake is empty to see if I can find any remains of the pump that went to the old New Brighton Baths..

...which oddly I've just added an indepth history of the Baths in the relevant section!

Cool.

More:

That the plug to empty the lake?

Bait diggers will be there for rag worm

Last few

Great work wheels, thanks bud.

I'm not sure were they are dumping all the silt? any idea's?

[youtube]-9g1bXPphOY[/youtube]

Yes, it's mostly going to the old baths site area and adjacent as part of a ground reprofiling exercise to allow building works to commence later on.

Nice clip wheels. Cheers mate.

I wanted to have a go of the dump truck, but they wouldn't let me! Wonder why??? With all that silt in there I hope they pile the foundations a bit better then the Bidston flyover!

if not i suppose we could always call it worky town.

wonky town Or Wonky town.

well new bright looks like a right mess.. Spose it'l be a shopping town soon

so what isactually hapening to the marinelake?

I can't wait to see it finished! We have a desperate shortage of supermarkets in the Wirral, and to see what was once a boring, quiet town with horrible views across the River Mersey, and then have it over-run with thousands of people coming through to do their shopping. Thank God they're getting rid of that horrible lake also, it was a real eye-sore, what with all the birds, and wildlife etc.



(sarcasm).

The lake is being retained!

It's empty at the moment so that material can be taken from the bed (a lot of which blew in or was washed in over the years). There'll be some repairs to the walls and penstocks and a new rigging-type area will be put in, and then it will be refilled.

One or two more, from last week:-

First one looking southwestish across the old baths site. A lot of old pipework here - the deep excavation at centre left background is where the old motor/pump/sump room was for the baths.

Third one the granite blocks form the old dock quaysides have been removed; I think they're going to be replaced somewhere within the development.

I've tried to caption each photo, and have no idea if it's worked

Interesting because the Council was going to drain it and dredge it to even the depth all over about 8 years ago. A report said that there were heavy metals and other comtaminants which had washed in from the river over the years and that the silt would have to be specially disposed of. Not sure much would change on the lake bed in 8 years?

Some more pics here on the Neptune website *Clicky*

Live webcam feed

i didn't realise they were building a cinema!

and a lido!

do people really want to go shopping in morrisons in a force 9 gale in the winter i go to new brighton to enjoy myself with my family not trapse round a supermarket with whining kids not my idea of fun

Full New Brighton Neptune Developments Plans


http://www.neptunedevelopments.co.uk/devdocs/NEW%20BRIGHTON.pdf

PDF FILE

Although parts of it are really just big grey retail sheds that could have been cloned from anywhere in the country I do think its going to be a good thing. Something needed to be done there. The Cafes/bars overlooking the lake look great.

I think a supermarket might do the place good, but i think it could have been located a bit better! It's gonna spoil the view, and i reckon its too close to the lake!

If u got to www.wirralcam.com you can see the supermarket being built.

I think its just the swimming pool that will be open-top. Though I'd be greatly entertained by an open-air supermarket...

Welcome to the machine catejones.

Some shots taken on phone, as i was passing today.

Nice one, didn't take long for the swans to come back to the boating lake.

Wandered past there today on a lunch time stroll, I can't believe how popular the model boating is, I figured there would only be a few people there a few days of the week, but pretty much each time I pass it there is someone chasing a swan with a speedboat!

[NERD]I quite like the idea of a model boat[/NERD]

Hmmm....

it looks great! i love morrisons to shop but hey a supermarket will look hidious there

agree that the area needed improvements....but a supermarket dumped into a local area of beauty

still im sure the winter storms will cause havoc down there !

Am I the only one who thought the area was nice as it was, and didn't need changing? A supermarket will just bring more traffic, ruining what it was, and kill surrounding retail businesses, as usual. It's a seafront, it's not meant to have a yet another retail park, there's one up the road.

I give it a year! Water damaged goods sale.

Scheme to move Wirral resort New Brighton “up market”




THE revamped New Brighton is to be promoted as an “up-market” destination as it nears completion.

The resort is undergoing a massive £60m redevelopment by Liverpool-based Neptune.

And, with less than a year until it is finished, it is also expected construction jobs on the site will increase dramatically in the next few months as the building work enters the next phase.

Neptune’s development director Rob Mason said they were committed to employing as much local labour as possible – and it is expected jobs on the New Brighton development will be advertised within the next few months.

Mr Mason said construction on the scheme was progressing well, and in the next 10 weeks more trades will be required , increasing opportunities for local workers.

He said they would be working with Jobcentre Plus, adding: “Both Neptune and Bowmer and Kirkland are committed to using local labour.”

Project manager for Bowmer and Kirkland, John Baines, said: “There will be local labour on site as we increase the number of trades working here.”

So far, much of the work has been highly specialised and relatively few people have been working on the site – but over the next few months the numbers are expected to grow significantly. Currently, Neptune is working with Wirral Metropolitan College offering young people the chance to work on site as part of their courses.

The students, who are all still at secondary school, are taking part in the “Young Apprenticeship in Construction” – a new two-year programme supported by the Construction Skills, Department for Education and Wirral Council.

Wirral Met 14-16 co-ordinator Cheryl Sutton said all the students found having hands-on work experience with Neptune and Bowmer and Kirkland invaluable.

She said: “While working with Neptune and Bower Kirkham, they will put into practice, in a real environment, some of the many skills they have learned.”

In addition, it is expected permanent jobs at the new Morrisons, digital cinema and Travelodge will begin to be advertised in early next year.

But, in the meantime, promotion of the development is moving into a new phase and Mr Mason said: “The objective is to take New Brighton more up-market. Surely, if you’re in West Kirby, for example, it’s as easy to come to New Brighton rather than Cheshire Oaks.”


THE WIRRAL NEWS

The whole bloody thing looks horrendous !! Let's hope this attempted money-making scam for the fat-cats developers, gets its just deserts on the first on-shore severe gale combined with a high tide.

If properly built (brick outhouse) structures (1930's era) couldn't withstand what Liverpool Bay had to offer on a bad day, then what hope this pile of tin sheddery ??

Yes Stephen1972, a year at the most !

It will be a good idea after it's all laid to waste, to scoop it all out and make a marine lake !!!!

Winter storms are coming,wouldnt fancy working there this winter.

I shouldn't laugh !!

Will the travelodge get much business? Pull in rjs or the new bars n get a room for £19 lol

went passed yesterday and theyve started to add the next floor or two to it its massive...cant see the local residents being happy now ! its going to block a huge portion of the view across the bay


ive also heard rumours that the old cave network under red noses has been used to accomodate floodwater under the prom . not sure how true that is .... anyone ?

Rumours....

Theatre goers might use it...

Taken today from my mobile phone

Wow, they are really getting on with it

Looks like a fun climb

Bring it on!!!
The supermarket didn't harm West Kirby.
We want the improvements and they wouldn't have happend without the financial input from Morrisons!!!

Im looking forward to the Lido!

Yes it will be great!!!

It will be good to have a travel lodge in new brighton espeacily when ken dodd is on in the floral pavillion

I have to agree with you, partly because I don't think it needs another retail complex. I'll miss going down to New Brighton because it was pretty quiet and nice. Let's hope they've galvanised -everything-.

Anyway who wants to go shopping in a seaside resort

People go to new brighton for nice walks and days out

I know i wont be going Shopping in new brighton i go for the lesiure

the idea of the project is to get people to go to new brighton, just look at the list of the main attractions it will soon have to offer:

*Cinema (Digital)
*Shopping
*Bowling & Laser Quest
*Hotel
*Theatre
*Marine Lake
*Fort Perch Rock
*Beach
*Arcade/Family Fun Fair
*Dips (Wirral Egg Run, Wirral International Kite Festival)

and probably more, this is a good investment and Wirral should be lucky with more investment with Wirral Waters from Peel!!!

The cinema aside it already has all those...

Hopefully it will all be well looked after and not abused by chavs

and large waves

?

Oh Dear!!!

Bloody hell fire!! When was that taken Stephen?

its a google pic. A warning as it will happen 1 day.

You can go to a clone cinema and clone shopping and watch/buy the same thing anywhere else on the Wirral. There's an empty stretch of land that isn't generating revenue, it's just an excuse to build another supermarket.

How about the council and the developers try regenerating areas that matter to the people already living here and not 'possible outside investment'. The Wirral is a peninsula and once you reach New Brighton, there's only one way to go.

would the baths still be as busy if they didnt take the easy option and demolish them? I say yes. And would of been a good venue for music concerts etc

Not in this weather they wouldn't.

The classic 1930's design of the baths was (IMHO) great. Yes, courtesy of the various councils over the years, maintenance could have been better. Some similar 1930 buildings down south have had money hurled their way and have been renovated - with great success.

Didn't some glitzy 30's hotel in Morecambe (??) have the same treatment? Ditto success. Original 30's stuff should be held onto at all costs. Future generations aren't going to thank us if we let it all decay/wash away.

Just me 2d's worth.

A couple of little snippets here of New Brighton baths
http://www.britishpathe.com/
use search bar, New Brighton baths, High Diving at New Brighton,

Good ones Bert. Thanks.

not sure why anyone would appose the development, it will bring in revenue for the area and create jobs, new brighton is a bit of a dump, about time the place got brought into the 21st century.

I think it looks awesome personally, even though I'm not from these parts (though I am from a similar seaside town down south), the loss of the New Brigton tower brings a tear to my eye, I think it looked amazing.

It'll be nice to see the area develop a little more, hopefully the glory days can return, to save it being another "Last Resort".

I cannot wait for everything to be finished and up and running. It will be great to have a cinema only 10 minutes walk away instead of having to go to Birkenhead.

Oh Sparky,don't get them started on the Wallasey/Birkenhead thing again!!!! Lol

Bloody Hell! Rip up NB seafront so Sparky can walk to the flicks. That's what I call a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

Even the wildfowl are getting cold feet waiting for the Neptune development

Snod

The problem in my opinion is a selfish attitude a vocal minority of the people who live there seem to have. The same goes for other places, West Kirby to name another good example. They oppose any change whatsoever. They don't care about the younger and future generations, they just expect the resorts to grow old, crumble and die along with them.

That has hit the nail on the head. I used to Holiday as a child in Folkstone, Kent (84-86). A seaside town not hugely far removed from New Brighton, I went back about two years ago (for old times sake before I moved up here) and due to the exact mentality above, the entire Victorian seafront had turned to rubble and was nothing more than a decayed memorial to a once-proud past, very sad indeed. This is the peril of clinging to the pieces of the past, its all too easy to miss the future heading your way.

Seaside towns need to evolve to suit the needs of society as a whole in the present day, not just the needs of the generation that were around when those towns first started to grow. It ensures a future for everyone, and a newly built, clean and safe environment for families and tourists (who pay the bills) to come and enjoy. Surely only a positive thing?

Obviously the past should never be forgotten, I for one believe there should be a memorial of some kind for the New Brigton Tower, but sadly there is no such thing. But regardless, I can't see how anyone could say that Neptune is a bad thing.

true this is 21st century entertainment that will bring family's back and with the added bonus of big events including the Wirral Egg Run which will bring money to the shops

It will still only be transitory and will collapse a long time shorter of the durability that the old buildings had. NB started going down the drain when they stopped painting the railings on the sea front and repairing river front buildings so that everything started to look seedy compared with what folks could get in Spain, that and the prices. The price of a cup of tea is ridiculous never mind some munchies to go with it. Modern concrete buildings with plastic fittings soon look like shoit and they are built so that no one can get at the fittings to maintain them, we'll see.

I'm sure Neptune don't see building longevity as a problem, so long as they make their shareholders happy.

I live in New Brighton and I am looking forward to everything being finished. I think it will bring a lot more people back to the resort

Looks like they are putting up the steelwork
for the "spa" near the boating lake end.

I took a video of the baths after the storm, I can assure you that the infrastructure of the main building (the riverside ballroom and the pump house that was below it) had been well and truly wrecked beyond repair. Could it have been re-built, maybe but why? People hardly ever used the place, it was too cold in the water and too cold out of the water many days. Could it have been roofed over and made into a POP / Rock venue? Maybe but some would still have moaned about that.

So when Neptune came along what did we have (remember we can't blame Neptune for the decline it had already happened when they came along) a theater that was in need of investment, a run down crazy golf, a sailing school behind a high wooden fence running out of containers, a run down toilet block, mounds of rubble where the pool was, a half demolished Grand (now fully demolished) a run down Fort (sorry owner I know you're trying your best but if people only come to New Brighton to walk the kids & empty the dog you'll never be able to afford to make your venue more interesting) Wilkies half hearted attempt at a fair and a shed load of memories.

Now, with the theater looking great and the other work underway things are looking up (yes I know it's not Victorian but it's looking good).

The Guy above talks about sacrificing the water front to save a trip to Birkenhead to see a film .... WHAT WATERFRONT? It was a cattle auction site, all railings and bare tarmac, the baths site was a mud pile and the sailing school was like a building site, behind a big blue fence that you couldn't see over and running from the aforementioned containers.

From what I've seen you will still be able to walk around the road side part of the lake, the area between the sailing school and the shops should be a safe place to sit with kids and the whole thing will make it worthwhile for others to "Clean Up" their act ! The Queens now looks great after it's face lift (only undertaken because the owner could see other investment going on and knew his venue would have to compete with the new stuff). The Cafe has had a face lift too so now not only does it serve some great grub but is pleasant to eat in too. The bowls, while just a modern box building, is at least a NICE place to go and the Floral is something to be proud of.

All in all I think it's going to make a BIG difference.

And Neptune's pandering to the shareholders? ... well unlike many others in the past they DID put their money where their mouths where and up to now they have kept ALL of their promises.

Any chance of uploading the video to YouTube or the likes? Thanks

Here, Here to all that!!!, it would be brill to see the vid, Thanx.

I think it'll look nice. A supermarket isn't needed though.

On a related story, they demolished an old 50's building in Chester and while everyone was expecting another set of steel/glass apartments/hotel/shopping centre, they instead put a park there and it looks really nice.

well said.

Some photos taking on me iphone yesterday.

...best put a lead on ya dog mate before he runs off again !!

Good pics too - seems to be coming along....

Great pics, thank you for posting them on here. It's great for people to see how they are getting on down there. The WirralCam website only gives one live webcam.

Some photos taken on Sunday (3/4/11)

This development will generate some money, however it's not really what we want.. if you look at Southport, a perfectly good potentially unique seaside development turned into another Business Park.

What New Brighton is getting is another Business Park, albeit with a little landscaping and a lido. I'm a sucker for Victorian seaside resorts, and I think NB would have benefited from a modern version of Victorian resort! (similar to those on the N Wales coast)

Perhaps best would have been for a New ferry terminal to be built, also perhaps to build a pier, a strong one, that really would have been awesome!

Phil I see the Lido there, it's actually bigger than I thought it would be!

Took some photos today, mainly on the seaward side showing
the Travelodge which is due to open at the end of the week.

What a difference a couple of weeks make! Great pics by the way

Thanks!

What an ugly development. Now, where would I rather be? Liverpool looking over this way or here looking over to Liverpool.

Proper eyesore - hope they do something less boring with the cladding on the rest.

Anyone know where wheelchairs/prams go through?

There is at least one opening gate in the "splash wall".
Shut at present but presumably will be open in future.
I assume it (they) will be closed if the sea is coming
over the sea wall.

how ugly but it looks like the 70s look is back in fashion if st caths is anything to go by too!!!

No pleasing some people, I think the whole development looks great.

yes despite the strangish looks, at least we have finally got something filling the empty void that was left over 30 years ago.

just wish something was done about liscard!!!!

30 years ago?

All we need now is the fairground back a new tower bigger and better then blackpool and a landing stage for the ferries boat to bring the day trippers back to new brighton Bring the good days back please

Yeah, a new pier and tower, that would be great.

new brighton baths was actually a bit less than that, my mis calculation

you were only 9 years out

haha i was only young at the time so i cant remember

Can Liscard be saved? It seems to have been going downhill for the last 20 years. It now looks like a meeting place for Care In The Community Wallasey Branch.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeGm77qMh3I

funnily enough u say about 20 years thats about the same time angela eagle came in to power, need i say no no more!!!

That's pretty funny. Showcases the delights of Liscard and Birkenhead North quite well.

To be fair, I don't think 32 years of Tory government have done much for Wallasey or the Wirral either. Although I have to say that Eagle is a lazy cow.

she gits right on my milk nossles.

how she keeps getting voted in is beyond me

I think the reason she got in at the last election is because many people were scared of a Conservative government. Also, Leah Fraser had annoyed a lot people with constant blooody leaflets. Came across as a real busybody. Very few people were making a positive vote for Eagle.

Well I think its about time we all demand changes and stop voting her in there must be a better alternative.

Lol And you think were going to get it, the good days will never be back, Give it another ten years and it will become a fire, due to not making money....

Lmao, you pessimist Jase!! Have some hope at least (though I do suspect you will be proven right in time).

I am so disappointed that a new pier is not part of the new plans.

Merseytravel had some plans in 2009 to extend the tramway from Woodside to Seacombe Ferry. The eventual plan was to run it along the prom to New Brighton. With all the spending cuts I can't see this happening for a long time, if ever. Would have been lovely in summer though. And quite a tourist attraction.

I see the new information centre is about to open on Victoria Road. Should be interesting. And lots of new flower baskets down by the bus shelters. Hopefully the ... wont try to destroy them as they really brighten up the area

Yer saw the flowers at the weekend,very nice.
Where is the information centre Touch?

Aww that would have been great!

It's on the same side of the road as the post office. On the next block. Corner of Windsor Street I think. There's also going to be a dedicated website for New Brighton. VisitNewBrighton.com or something like that.

Just checked on Google Earth. It's were the Red Cross charity shop was.

Thanks Touch are you local?

Yes, I'm local. Just off Seabank Road.

Hey i've seen you at the Dutchmans!

Well, that's better than the usual "haven't I seen you on Crimewatch?" comments!

The new visitors centre is going to be run by the New Brighton Partnership. They're the same people behind the Walrus magazine.

Ok thanks

A few photos of the Neptune Development yesterday 18th July 2011.

Wow, what great pictures.

Any news on who will be running the Health Club?
Is it going to be a private gym?

Shame about the size of the outdoor pool, the model boating lake dwarfs it in size!

No good it being there, hardly anyone will go up Victoria Road when all they can see is a housing development. Whose idea was it be put housing there? Another stupid mistake by the planners.

Health Club scrapped, I've posted a message in local news section

I CANT believe the amount of negativity and bashing this video has got! surely its meant to be lighthearted, self abasing (haha), fun?! some people are too touchy!

Plus this is my new Kareoke song round the birkenhead pubs...think I`ll last long? haha

[quote=Touchstone]

Yes, I'm local. Just off Seabank Road. [/quo




Hi Touchstone...I used to live on Ormiston Rd

Took a few more photos today around the site.

wow!
thanks for posting these, its really starting too look good

Notices around Morrisons state that it is due
to open 10 Oct.

I took my grandson for an ice-cream there about 2pm this afternoon. New Brighton was quite busy, not too many parking spaces left in the usual places, but Morrisons car park was half full - and the shop is not even open yet. I wonder what it will be like at half term when the place has opened...

probably a time limit when its all open. I parked in a dip few weeks ago lol

Bing Maps (Microsoft) have updated their aerial
views around parts of Wallasey/Wirral. The Neptune
Development now shows in full - though not finished
you can see the size of it.

Monday 6th Dec I took a little day trip to New Brighton to grab some pics of the recent development,
I got off the train cycled down Portland Street to get to Kings Parade Promenade I started cycling and the wind blew
all the way along the Prom to the New Travel Lodge.
Well I certainly had picked a awful day weather wise to go it was bitterly cold, windy, rain & hailstones, even eat my butties with my gloves on...:banana:

Anyway here's some pics, not too pleased with some my poor hands were freezing !!!

The New Lido (I think)


Perch Rock


New Caffecream


The Light


New Starbucks


Brooklyns


New Morrisons


New Morrisons


Hope you enjoy....:cheers:

Thanks for the update, sorry about
the weather!

nice pics! nice BMW in cafe cream shot. any1 know what's happening to rjs?

Great pics thanks Chris

wheelchair and pram access to the prom needs to be better