Knowsley Council’s Cabinet has given their backing to exciting investment plans for Halewood.
Cabinet has agreed to the implementation of the Halewood Levelling Up Fund programme, which the Council secured earlier this year.
Cabinet has granted authority to the Council to implement the £15.3m investment programme, which will fund major improvements in Halewood.
The funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will be invested to facilitate an expansion of Halewood’s retail offer, improve greenspaces and leisure facilities, enhance sporting facilities, deliver improvements to and decarbonisation of the Leisure Centre, as well as funding improvements to walking and cycling connectivity throughout the town and to employment areas.
Knowsley Council successfully secured the funding for Halewood from Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund.
Since the funding announcement in January 2023, the Council has been mobilising its delivery team, carrying out a number of surveys and liaising with other organisation to help shape the plans for Halewood. This includes developing proposals to support the climate change agenda with decarbonisation plans for the Volair Halewood Leisure Centre. Wider stakeholder engagement and consultation has also taken place.
The Halewood Levelling Up proposals will complement and enhance the significant package of investment already taking place in Halewood.
More than £30m will be invested in Halewood in the coming years, including Section 106 contributions for developers helping to deliver the East of Halewood development.
In addition to the Levelling Up Fund, work is already underway in Halewood to deliver:
- New primary school places (Up to £4.6 million investment)
- Improvements to local roads and transport links (up to £4.4 million investment)
- Outdoor sports facilities (up to £1.1 million investment)
- More early years childcare provision (up to £1.1 million investment)
- Improvements to Finch Woods (up to £1 million investment)
- A subsidised bus service through the new housing development site (up to £652,500 investment)
- Improvements to local healthcare facilities (up to £104,000).
£2.5m has also been secured from the City Region Sustainable Travel Settlement for additional highways improvement works.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “The investment in Halewood will exceed £30m in the coming years, which amounts to around £1,500 per resident. The plans for the town will improve the facilities and general amenities for current and future residents. These are exciting times for Halewood and the investment will have a really positive impact.”
Residents, businesses and visitors and other stakeholders will be consulted on the investment plans for Halewood in the coming months.