Sainsbury’s opens new store in Wirral Waters marking next stage of regeneration

Custom-built 4,300 sq. ft store marks the latest milestone for expanding waterfront neighbourhood project.

The initial convenience store at Wirral Waters has formally launched, signalling another major benchmark in Peel Waters’ ongoing transformation of one of the UK’s largest regeneration schemes.

Situated on Duke Street adjacent to the award-winning Millers Quay residential development, the new purpose-built Sainsbury’s Local was created in partnership with Peel Waters. It will deliver a crucial local amenity for the rapidly expanding Wirral Waters community and the surrounding business area.

The bespoke 4,300 sq. ft location has generated 17 new jobs, standing as the very first dedicated convenience retailer to establish a footprint within Wirral Waters. It gives residents, students, employees, and visitors effortless access to daily essentials in the heart of this evolving waterfront hub.

This opening marks the latest phase in a period of substantial growth and delivery across Wirral Waters. Throughout the past year, Peel Waters and its partners have actively accelerated development across the site, bringing new housing, infrastructure, commercial spaces, and community amenities to life in line with the long-term vision.

Designed with care, the new building harmonises with the premium architecture of nearby Millers Quay—the multi-award-winning, 500-home residential complex that serves as a flagship for sustainable waterfront living within the Liverpool City Region.

Construction on the store commenced in February 2026 and wrapped up in under five months. The build also offered practical learning opportunities for students from Wirral Met College’s Wirral Waters Construction Campus, who gained hands-on experience and industry insight on an active development site within the regeneration zone.

Operating daily from 7am to 11pm, the store supplies a complete selection of convenience groceries, fresh produce, grab-and-go options, bakery items, and frozen goods, alongside a Click & Collect hub for Argos, Habitat, and Tu Clothing.

David Pilbeam, Sainsbury’s Director of Acquisitions, Capital Projects and Engineering, said: 

“We’re delighted to open our new Sainsbury’s Local at Wirral Waters. The area is developing into a thriving new neighbourhood and we’re proud to be part of that journey by bringing greater convenience, choice and value to residents, workers and visitors. 

We are also excited to be the first convenience store to open in the development and I’d like to thank Peel Waters for the opportunity to bring our newest Sainsbury’s Local to Wirral Waters, creating jobs and investing in the local economy in the process.”

Richard Mawdsley, Wirral Waters Director of Development at Peel Waters, said: 

“The opening of Sainsbury’s Local is another significant milestone in the continued evolution of Wirral Waters and demonstrates the growing confidence in the place we are creating.

“As the first convenience retailer to open at Wirral Waters, it provides an important amenity for the thousands of people now living and working here and reflects the transition from vision to reality that we are seeing across the development.

“Peel Waters has worked closely with Sainsbury’s to bring forward a purpose-built store that complements the award-winning design of neighbouring Millers Quay while also creating jobs, supporting skills development and enhancing everyday life for our growing community.

“The fact that construction began in February and has been completed in less than five months highlights the pace at which development is now being delivered across Wirral Waters. It’s another tangible example of the momentum we are building as we continue to attract investment, businesses and new residents to the area.”

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paula Basnett, added: 

“The opening of Sainsbury’s Local is a welcome addition for the growing community at Millers Quay and across Wirral Waters. Having access to everyday essentials within walking distance of home is an important part of creating a neighbourhood where people can enjoy living, working and spending time.”

“It’s great to see another piece of the plan coming to life. Facilities like this help foster a real sense of community, while the investment and jobs the store brings are further signs of the confidence and momentum we are seeing across Wirral Waters. This is regeneration delivering practical benefits for local people.”

Spearheaded by Peel Waters, Wirral Waters is one of the UK’s largest regeneration endeavours, converting 500 acres of former docklands into a sustainable, mixed-use waterfront destination.

The initiative has already generated thousands of jobs, major infrastructure upgrades, educational venues, and hundreds of new homes, with substantial further investment scheduled in the years ahead. The launch of Sainsbury’s Local adds a vital day-to-day amenity to the expanding district, marking another step forward in Peel Waters’ master plan to forge a vibrant waterfront community where people can live, work, and relax.

Find out more about Wirral Waters here.

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