RESIDENTS are to have their say on plans for up to 8,000 new homes near the M53.

The massive 25-year development, first revealed exclusively by the Pioneer in May, could see 30-storey skyscrapers on the Ellesmere Port waterfront.

A draft brief has been drawn up for the future of the site. Owners Peel Holdings are expected to put forward an initial planning application early next year.

Early ideas for the redevelopment of 70 acres of land at Ellesmere Port Docks suggested 7,550 new apartments and houses.

The latest thinking provides for more family housing, the borough’s planning committee was told in a report.

The development would be a key site in the approved Growth Point for West Cheshire, councillors heard.

The waterfront scheme would be the largest single housing development proposed in West Cheshire and the largest ever seen in Ellesmere Port.

Five weeks of consultations are proposed on the design brief with planning officers saying the development could transform the town and attract inward investment and employment.

Affordable housing would be included and a waterfront promenade would run through the development.

Jobs would also be created.

The massive project would help the regeneration of the adjacent Westminster area, say planning officers, and would improve connections between the waterfront and the town centre with a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the busy M53.

Recreational facilities would be provided for the wider area.

The docks would be moved towards Eastham and would become Port Wirral. Peel Holdings plans to transform most of the waterfront as part of a wider scheme, provisionally named Wirral Waters.

Planning officers say the strengths of the Port development include the fact it would have a spectacular waterfront to the Ship Canal and the Mersey estuary and provide a unique setting.

It would be close to two M53 junctions, would have railway access and would be within walking distance of the town.

Opportunities would include a new waterside community with a distinctive character.

The development would provide “a major and a unique contribution” to the West Cheshire Growth Point and a spectacular promenade for the town.

There would be connections with the National Waterways Museum and the historic port and the waterside recreational route would have a link to the Shropshire Union Canal.

“Tall, high-quality landmark buildings are considered a vital part of the scheme,” suggest planning officers.

The possibility of a new railway station connecting with the Merseyrail network would be investigated.

This could provide links to Wirral, Liverpool and Chester and possibly, in the longer term, to Manchester.

The brief suggests there should be a good mix of accommodation, including one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom and larger homes including provision for older and disabled people.

The amount of affordable housing would reflect the market at the time each part of the development was completed although the council is to require affordable homes to be included at each stage.

Community facilities could include small convenience stores, crèches, restaurants, play space, health services and education and leisure facilities.

The council believes developers should also consider the need for places of worship and pubs.

The brief suggests 1,500 dwellings could be built in the first phase between 2010 and 2017.

The council has drawn up a comprehensive list of organisations which should be consulted, ranging from the Cheshire West and Chester shadow council and other local authorities and regional and national bodies to local community representatives, businesses and residents.

“The council expects Peel Holdings will carry out a significant amount of preliminary consultation with Westminster residents,” says the report.

Responses to the consultation are due to be considered by councillors in January 2009.