A further £1.660m of investment for Kirkby Town Centre has been approved at Knowsley Council’s Cabinet meeting tonight (Thursday 13 January 2022).
The investment will be used for essential maintenance and improvement works to update a prominent vacant building, occupying 36,000 feet2 on Cherryfield Drive. Once the building has been improved, the Council expects to secure a new tenant to provide a new family leisure offer in the Town Centre.
This latest work follows the significant investment in the Town Centre through the construction of the 94,000 feet2 retail development extension, which has already seen a Morrisons superstore and petrol station and KFC and Taco Bell drive-through restaurants opening their doors and a larger Home Bargains store also due to open very soon.
Work on the Cherryfield Drive building will mean that it will be ready for the new tenant, with whom the Council is in advance discussions and who would provide a family-friendly leisure offer. Having a better choice of family-friendly activities was something which local residents and businesses asked for when the Council asked, “What makes a good town centre?” in March 2020.
Cabinet Members were also updated on work which is under way to progress the letting of the newly-built 10,000 feet2 Unit 5 Telegraph Way (located on the new retail development) to provide a new gym offer.
Councillor Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “I’m delighted with the progress we have made in Kirkby Town Centre. Firstly, we delivered the new retail development in just under two years. But we always said that the retail development was just the start of our ambitious plans for Kirkby.
“Work is also progressing on the multi-screen cinema scheme and we are currently in negotiations to bring two more businesses into Kirkby occupying large and prominent premises in the town centre. We listened to what our residents and businesses wanted in Kirkby and we are delivering exactly what they asked for.
“This latest investment will help to take forward more lettings in the town centre, providing a diverse range of leisure and family activities.
“Importantly, a variety of job roles are also being created for local people which is a key priority for us.”