'Fantastic' Merseyside town undergoing multi-million pound transformation

Kirkby Town Centre is set for even more major change in 2025 as the local authority ramps up its regeneration plans.

Huyton's Municipal Building hosted a full Knowsley Council meeting last week where elected members made decisions on a number of proposals including the approval of new plans for Kirkby. As part of these plans, councillors also approved a capital grant investment of £2.090m to support the delivery of a new retail development in Kirkby Town Centre.

Council bosses said the regeneration of Kirkby continues to be a top priority for the local authority, with significant progress already been made.

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Since purchasing the town centre for £43.6m in 2019, Knowsley Council said it has delivered a number of regeneration projects which are contributing to the Kirkby's ongoing transformation alongside the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

These include the new train station at Headbolt Lane and a major new retail extension in Kirkby town centre which has boosted the local economy by £15.3m per year and created more than 490 jobs, according to council reports.

Furthermore, the £2.2m redevelopment of the multi-storey car park is credited with creating a new 'travel hub' in the town and attracted new tenants in Central House offices.

Following on from these projects, the local authority have now approved proposals for a further 29,000 feet2 of modern retail space. Plans also include promoting the “Kirkby Gateway” opportunity site (off Hall Lane) – this site of the former Kirkby Civic Building and Kirkby Swimming Pool has the capacity to deliver new homes, a hotel, and commercial office space to serve the town.

Councillor Tony Brennan, Regeneration and Economic Development Cabinet Member, said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce a further new phase of retail development in Kirkby Town Centre.

"I know that local people have been asking for a wider offer in terms of retail in the town and I’m hopeful that we will be able to secure tenants very soon and then progress these plans.

“Kirkby has been identified as a great business location – footfall in the town has increased by a massive 160% and Kirkby Town Centre was highlighted by the Financial Times as one of the top three areas to best recover from the pandemic.

"Kirkby really is a fantastic location – for businesses, residents, visitors and investors – and I am looking forward to seeing the expansion of our retail offer.”