National award recognises landmark £130m Millers Quay Wirral Waters as a benchmark for regeneration-led housing

Last night, Millers Quay at Wirral Waters was named winner of the ‘Building’ category at The Pineapples Awards, recognising its outstanding contribution to place-making, community impact and design excellence.

Funded by Pension Insurance Corporation and delivered by waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters, in partnership with Wirral Council and Homes England, the £130m development has transformed a former dockland site into a thriving, inclusive waterfront neighbourhood. The scheme was designed by Howells and constructed by GRAHAM.

The Pineapples Awards, run by The Developer in partnership with the Design Council, celebrate places that excel in design quality while delivering meaningful environmental and social impact. The Building category recognises completed buildings that positively contribute to the wider place and its people.

Millers Quay comprises 500 highly sustainable one- and two-bedroom homes, including 20% affordable housing, set within a distinctive dockside environment that reconnects local communities with the waterfront for the first time in over a century.

Designed as a contemporary interpretation of Birkenhead’s maritime heritage, Millers Quay features bold, colourful façades and a striking waterfront presence, creating a new identity for the area. Its design ensures that every home benefits from natural light and water views, while generous balconies, landscaped courtyards and dockside walkways encourage community interaction and wellbeing.

£44m invested in local supply chains, £31m generated in social value and 1000+ jobs created

Beyond its architectural quality, the development has delivered significant social and economic impact. More than 1,000 jobs were created during construction, with £44m invested in local supply chains and 75% of the workforce drawn from within 30 miles of the site. The scheme has generated £31m in social value, alongside training and employment opportunities through partnerships with local colleges and universities.

Sustainability is embedded throughout the project, with EPC B ratings across all homes, air source heat pumps, solar energy systems and sustainable urban drainage features helping to reduce environmental impact and enhance biodiversity.

The success of Millers Quay has already helped unlock further investment across Wirral Waters, supporting new residential, leisure and employment developments and reinforcing the area’s transformation into a vibrant, mixed-use waterside community.

Striking architecture and extraordinary ambition

In their citation, the judges described Millers Quay as “a catalyst – bringing people, investment and homes to a once-desolate landscape through bold regeneration, striking architecture and extraordinary ambition.” They praised the challenges overcome in delivering the scheme, highlighted its commitment to local training and employment, and recognised the powerful signal it sends for the future of the area. What was once an empty site, they noted, is now a busy, lived-in place.

Millers Quay stood out in a strong field of shortlisted builds: Amazon Property’s Loveday Belgravia; Rollalong’s Demonstration Modular Home across Newham, Havering and Camden; Manchester Metropolitan University’s Science and Engineering building; Related Argent and L&Q’s Brent Cross Plot 12 202; and Concord London’s Marylebone Square.

A catalyst for change creating new homes and new opportunities

Richard Mawdsley, Director of Development, Wirral Waters at Peel Waters, said: “Winning a Pineapples Award is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved in Millers Quay and a powerful endorsement of what can be achieved through long-term, partnership-led regeneration. This is not just a building, it is a catalyst for change – creating new homes, new opportunities and a renewed sense of place for Wirral.

“Millers Quay demonstrates how thoughtful design, strong collaboration and a commitment to social value can come together to deliver something truly transformative. We are incredibly proud of the role it is playing in reshaping Wirral Waters.”

Alan McCartney, Partner at Howells, said: “We’re thrilled that Millers Quay has been recognised with a Pineapples Award. Thanks to our exceptional client team, and everyone involved in making the project happen on site. What we imagined eight years ago is exactly what stands today and we’re proud to see the quality of the homes completed, and to be a successful part of the transformational legacy continuing at Wirral Waters.”

A blueprint for how long term investment can unlock meaningful regeneration and deliver lasting social value

James Agar, Head of Real Estate Origination at PIC, said: “This Pineapples Award is a powerful recognition that Miller’s Quay is not only a landmark development, but a blueprint for how long term investment can unlock meaningful regeneration and deliver lasting social value. Throughout construction and since completion, the project has created significant local employment, supported ongoing skills development, and generated vital cashflow for the surrounding economy, schools and businesses. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when forward thinking, innovative and committed partners work together with a shared vision.
“PIC remains committed to backing developments that provide the secure, long term cashflows needed to pay the pensions of our current and future policyholders, while helping communities to thrive. This award reinforces the importance of that mission and the impact that responsible, partnership led investment can and does deliver.”

A scheme that reflects the value of genuine collaboration

Peter Reavey, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: “We’re proud to see Millers Quay recognised with this award win. As construction partner, GRAHAM has worked closely with an expert project team to deliver a scheme that reflects the value of genuine collaboration.

“Millers Quay sets a benchmark for meaningful regeneration, providing much-needed, high-quality homes while prioritising sustainability and creating a strong sense of place for the community that will benefit the region for generations to come.”