Virtual reality experience gives glimpse into the future of New Brighton and Seacombe as public consultation launches

A new immersive virtual reality experience will let visitors step into the future and see how New Brighton and Seacombe could look in years ahead.

Over two days at the Floral Pavilion on Friday and Saturday, 14 and 15 of October, visitors to the exhibition will be able use the latest technology to glimpse a possible future for the town and get a sense of how New Brighton and Seacombe could change over the next decade.

These unique public consultation events will use virtual reality (VR) to allow those attending to experience how the towns could develop with the help of customised 3D modelling – and based on ideas by local young people.

The VR experiences follow a series of events held with local schools to get younger people’s ideas on the future of New Brighton and Seacombe. These ideas have then been built into a 3D model to form part of the experience at the Floral Pavilion events.

The aim is to stimulate ideas and suggestions about reimagining New Brighton and Seacombe and making the most of their potential. It is part of a wider consultation on the future of New Brighton and Seacombe and what those who live, work, and visit them want to see there in the coming years.

Through the reality pop-ups created by 3D model and VR experience experts Digital Urban, visitors to the event will be able to take a virtual reality tour along New Brighton promenade on an open top bus led by a live tour guide. They will also see what the future Seacombe might look like as they travel along the waterfront in a virtual reality pedalo.

This is a chance to come along and try out a virtual reality experience for free while also being able to experience and then use the consultation to say how the areas could be transformed in future.

Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee chair, Cllr Tony Jones, said:

“This is a unique and incredibly exciting opportunity using the latest technology to see how our towns could look, based on ideas from those who are growing up in them.

“Those who come to these events will get the chance to move around the area, be immersed in them, and get a sense of what they could be like. I would urge everyone, whether you live in New Brighton or Seacombe or visit or work in here, to take this chance to take a glimpse into the possible future and tell us what you think, what you like and what you want to see.”

New Brighton and Seacombe form part of a wider transformational regeneration programme along the ‘Left Bank’ of the River Mersey, with a particular focus on the creation of a sustainable, waterfront urban garden community in Birkenhead and parts of Seacombe, underpinned by the Birkenhead 2040 Framework and Local Plan.

New Brighton and Seacombe have been identified as priority areas for regeneration in the draft Local Plan because of their potential as a high-quality visitor destination, and opportunities to create sustainable neighbourhoods for existing and new residents. The proposed Local Plan would help deliver the new housing needed for the borough while also protecting valued designated green spaces.

BDP, supported by AspinallVerdi and Curtins, have been commissioned to work with local stakeholders to produce a Neighbourhood Framework for New Brighton, to provide an ambitious vision to drive forward and guide the sustainable economic growth and renewal of New Brighton over the next 15 years.

For Seacombe, the Council has appointed HLP Architects and are working in partnership with Magenta Living Housing Association to develop a clear framework to improve living conditions, health outcomes and employment prospects for the residents of this area.

Street art in New Brighton

The interactive events are at the Floral Pavilion In New Brighton on:

• Friday 14 October 1pm-7:30pm
• Saturday 15 October 1pm-7pm

Numbers are limited so people are advised to book using the link below to guarantee a place, although visitors will be accommodated where possible. Book a slot via Eventbrite for a slot on the Virtual Reality experience.

Find out more about the consultation for New Brighton here.

And for the consultation on Seacombe at here.

The consultation surveys will be available to be completed from Friday 14 October and continues until on 25 November.