Speaking for Creativity at Wallasey Town Hall

On Monday 15 September, I spoke at the Economy, Regeneration & Housing Committee meeting in Wallasey Town Hall. The Committee was reviewing major policy frameworks — including the Liverpool City Region’s Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) and Wirral’s Local Plan.

These are documents that will shape where homes are built, how jobs are created, and how regeneration funding flows over the next 15 years. They may feel technical, but they set the tone for how our communities live, work, and thrive. For me, it was important that culture and creativity had a voice in that conversation.

The statement I gave

Chair, Members of the Committee, Officers, Brothers & Sisters… My name is Rory Wilmer, and I speak today on behalf of New Brighton Creative Futures. 

We are a community organisation dedicated to preserving and expanding New Brighton’s mural trail, and to supporting public art as a driver of regeneration. As you consider the Liverpool City Region’s Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) and how it will align with Wirral’s Local Plan, I would like to emphasise the importance of culture, creativity, and placemaking. The SDS sets a clear vision for a fairer, cleaner, stronger city region where town centres are reimagined as focal points for businesses, creativity, and communities. It specifically recognises the role of culture, tourism and visitor attractions.

Public art and street art are not decorative extras; they are central to this vision. They animate our public realm, create identity, and build pride of place. They attract visitors and investment, generate footfall for local businesses, and—crucially—deliver social value by engaging local people in shaping their environment.In New Brighton we have seen how murals have transformed walls into landmarks, how they bring stories of our river and community into the public eye, and how they contribute to the vitality of our coastal town. 

This is exactly what the SDS calls for: sustainable, inclusive growth that delivers wider and lasting community benefits.As the Council moves forward with its Local Plan and regeneration priorities, I urge you to ensure that public art is embedded as a strategic tool—not an afterthought. Investment in culture and creativity is an investment in health, wellbeing, and economic resilience. 

New Brighton Creative Futures stands ready to work with the Council, the Combined Authority, and community partners to ensure that art and culture are woven into the fabric of place-making across Wirral. Thank you.

Why it matters

The SDS isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about identity, sustainability, and community. It explicitly talks about towns like New Brighton having opportunities to strengthen their character and identity and to become more sustainable coastal communities.

That’s exactly what public art does. Murals bring stories to life, create pride of place, and attract visitors. They also deliver what the SDS calls social value — community benefits that go beyond economics and leave a lasting impact.

Looking ahead

This is just the beginning. New Brighton Creative Futures will continue to champion the role of art in regeneration — not as an afterthought, but as part of the strategy itself.

We’ve got new projects in the pipeline that will add to the story of our town. For now, I’ll simply say: keep your eyes on the walls. They’ve got more to say.

RW