Wirral Council's planning committee has approved plans for a major £4.5bn regeneration scheme - Wirral Waters, which aims to turn Birkenhead Docks into a new waterside destination.

Manchester-based developer Peel Holdings is leading the project, which is one of the largest planning applications in the UK and encompasses an 18 million sq ft (1.7 million sq m) area on the banks of the River Mersey. Individual architects have been involved with different elements of the plans, such as Glenn Howells Architects, BroadwayMalyan, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and HKR.

A range of restaurants, cafés, bars, a hotel and cultural attractions will aim to rejuvenate the former docks area, as well as helping to boost the economies of the Wirral peninsula and Liverpool. Wirral Council leader Jeff Green said: "We can now look forward to the site's transformation over the coming years to help improve the economic fortunes of the Borough and that of its residents."

Andrew Hodson, cabinet member for regeneration and planning strategy, added: "The approval of this planning application will lead to the total transformation of what is currently derelict brownfield land within East Float at Birkenhead Docks and when finished will create over 27,000 jobs." Last month, Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson backed the Wirral Waters scheme, which will complement a scheme on the other side of the Mersey - Liverpool Waters - also being planned by Peel Holdings.