Knowsley Council is committed to giving residents regular updates as work progresses to redevelop Kirkby Town Centre. Here are the latest updates you need to know.
What are the timescales for the new development?
Work started on the new retail development on Monday, 9 December 2019.
The latest timescales for the development are outlined below, but it is important to recognise that the scheme is a complex one, so these are dependent on a number of factors, such weather conditions, and may therefore be subject to change.
Enabling works, including drainage, have now begun with the foundations due to be laid in the Spring, shortly followed by the structural steelwork.
The new Morrisons store is scheduled to open in late Spring 2021.
The petrol filling station is due to be complete and open at the same time as the opening of the new Morrisons store.
Running alongside the supermarket will be the construction other retail units including a new store for Home Bargains and a drive-through KFC restaurants, with these openings scheduled for late Spring 2021.
Regular updates as this scheme progresses will be available here on Knowsley News.
Will car parking be affected by the commencement of the retail development?
There will be some changes to car parking during the construction phase, and updates will be provided in advance of any such changes.
There are currently around 1,000 car parking spaces in Kirkby and the council will be keeping this number throughout the construction period, as well as the current split of long and short stay spaces. Some specific car parking locations will change as the construction of the new retail development progresses, but the council plans to keep these changes to a minimum to help car park users.
Construction of a new car park has commenced on the land south of Cherryfield Drive (the former site of the Golden Eagle hotel) with completion due in the Spring. Once this car park is open, the ‘Telegraph Way 2’ car park (the former InShops car park) and Hall Lane car park will close to enable the construction work to begin.
In addition, a new car park has been created on the site of the former St Chad’s Clinic and is now available for use. It is in an ideal spot for visitors to Kirkby Market and for people to access the town centre from the north.
Regular updates will be available here on Knowsley News as well as on signs around the sites.
I’m a local resident who would like to know more about the job opportunities which the new retail scheme will create. Can you help?
There will be a range of employment opportunities available – not only during the construction phase, but also when the scheme completes, with opportunities being available in the units such as Morrisons, Home Bargains and KFC. To find out more, or to register your interest, you can contact the council’s Knowsley Works team.
The Knowsley Works team can help with CV development, job searches, and interview preparation.
They have bases in Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby – details below:
- Huyton 43 Derby Road or telephone 0151 443 5010.
- Kirkby The Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way or telephone 0151 443 4780.
- Halewood The Halewood Centre, Roseheath Drive or telephone 0151 443 2040.
In addition, the team offers a full free recruitment and selection service for employers, which includes recruitment advertising, supporting recruitment events, assessment centres, CV and application form reviews, shortlisting, and interviews. Employers interested in recruitment support from Knowsley Works can contact Debbie Hall or Joanne Goodall on 0151 443 5812.
I run a local company and want to know about contract opportunities during the build phase. Can you help?
If your company is local, the Business Team at Invest Knowsley can advise you about the opportunities available and how to become tender and supply chain ready. They can be contacted on 0151 477 4000 or you can email business@knowsley.gov.uk.