Liverpool City Council (LCC) has given its approval to a £4.5bn regeneration scheme designed to transform Birkenhead Docks into a major new waterside destination.

The 18 million sq ft (1.7 million sq m) Wirral Waters project is being led by the Manchester-based developer, Peel Holdings, and will incorporate a range of restaurants, cafés, bars, a hotel and cultural attractions. Individual architects have been involved with the design of different elements of the project, such as Glenn Howells Architects, BroadwayMalyan, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and HKR.

Wirral Waters is one of the UK's largest planning applications and is poised to go before Wirral Council's planning committee on 3 August. The development also aims to provide a counterpoint to Liverpool's Three Graces. LCC leader Joe Anderson said: "I am very happy to support Wirral Waters and I hope that this augurs well for closer working on major economic issues throughout the city region.

"The regeneration effects of Liverpool Waters, together with Wirral Waters, will be felt across the whole of the City Region and I am delighted to be able to back Wirral Waters." Wirral Council leader Jeff Green added: "The Wirral Waters project is really important, not just for Wirral but also the wider economy. Attracting new employers and creating jobs is a key priority for Wirral and Liverpool and I'd like to thank Councillor Anderson for giving his support to the project."

Peel Holdings is also behind the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme on the city side of the River Mersey to compliment the Wirral proposals, although concern has been raised by English Heritage over the potential impact of the plans. A spokesperson for the conservation group said: "Liverpool Waters has the potential to improve access to and understanding of the city's World Heritage Site, but it also has the potential to harm the setting of internationally important historic buildings on the waterfront.

"As a statutory advisor to Liverpool City Council, English Heritage is working closely with the Council and Peel Holdings to assist in the development of a scheme which delivers major regeneration benefits while safeguarding the outstanding heritage of Liverpool's waterfront and docks."