Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Members visited Kirkby’s retail development recently for some “sneak peaks” inside a number of the new units (including KFC and Home Bargains) which are due to open in the next few weeks.
Work on the new retail development has been progressing over the last 18 months, since the Council took the bold decision to buy Kirkby Town Centre in order to accelerate the town’s development.
Both KFC and Morrisons have now been handed over for internal fit-out, whilst work on the Morrisons petrol station, the new store for Home Bargains, and a drive-through Taco Bell restaurant are nearing completion ready for handing over for internal-fit out.
Councillor Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “It’s great to see so much progress in such a short space of time. There’s lots of activity on the site, with everyone working really hard to get this scheme open. It will create 500 jobs and will boost our local economy by £15m – welcome news for everyone.”
Councillor Jayne Aston, Knowsley Council’s Resources Cabinet Member, added: “It was a brave decision taken by the Council, but it was the right thing to do. We had been let down far too often and we knew that the only way to get the retail development delivered would be to take control to do it ourselves. That is exactly what we have done and look at what has been achieved. It’s remarkable to have done this while in the grip of a global pandemic.”
Councillor Louise Harbour, Knowsley Council’s Deputy Leader and Adult Social Care Cabinet Member, added: “This is just the start of our plans for Kirkby – we want it to be a place where people live, work, and visit. Alongside the retail development, our plans on the cinema scheme are progressing well. We have listened to what our communities want for their town centre – if you’ve visited Kirkby recently, you’ll see that we are delivering exactly what local people have asked for.”