Designs for £14m Birkenhead Market revealed
Corstorphine & Wright has worked with Wirral Council on crafting the next-generation vision for the historic market – which is set to move into the former Argos unit at the Grange Shopping Centre.
A consultation on the proposals for Birkenhead Market has launched and will run until 23 September. You can view the designs and offer feedback at haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk.
Taking over nearly 33,000 sq ft of total space next to the bus station, Birkenhead Market 2.0 would boast 13 retail units, 10 food retailers, a 1,400 sq ft event space, bakery, cocktail bar, coffee shop, and 4,500 sq ft of seating.
There would also be space for toilets and offices, based on the layout on the consultation website.
Wirral Council Leader Cllr Paul Stuart spoke warmly about the market proposals.
“Across the country, town centres are transforming to meet the evolving needs of shoppers and visitors,” he said. “Birkenhead Market, which has been at the heart of the town centre for generations, is ready to embrace positive steps to secure its future.
“This latest engagement with residents, shoppers, market traders, and everyone invested in the market’s future is an exciting opportunity,” Stuart continued.
“Together, we will shape the new market in its new location, a space that holds great potential to perfectly meet the current and future needs of our vibrant shopping area, further energising our mission to breathe new life into Birkenhead town centre.”
The new market is supported by a successful £14m bid from the government’s Future High Street Fund.
This will only succeed if the tat retailers that dominate the old market aren’t simply re-housed. It’s dying because the offer is low-grade. If they want to attract a new type of shopper to the town centre, increasing footfall for the benefit of all, then something akin to the new Southport Market or Alty Market is what is required. Selection and curation of the tenants is therefore vital.
By Anonymous
I’m not a fan really of re-using a retail unit under a car park for this. There is no meaningful outdoor space either. It’s a no from me, although if they could pull off new market traders then I will be very impressed. The management is key.
By Sally
So in effect what the traders in the existing market were claiming – traditional market stalls reduced to a handful and placed in the now customary artisan Food Hall, because that’s what there is in some other places.
The “Event Space” is shown on the plans set out with dartboards, pool tables and shuffleboard, which further suggests a something-we-saw-somewhere-else approach, and the hope an entirely different demographic will appear in Birkenhead Precinct from somewhere.
By Anonymous
When did architects start ‘crafting’ rather than designing or drawing?
By Anonymous
When writers wanted to change things up from using the same two words
By Julia Hatmaker
The old Argos store is totally unsuitable for this use. On the periphery of the retail core, no extendable outdoor space for related events such as a craft or farmers market, and no room for expansion. It’s myopic, when the old House of Fraser store and the adjacent square are just a short distance away, and on a main pedestrian route that will link the development at Hind Street with the town centre. A massive missed opportunity
By Anonymous
Need something a bit more whelming to bring people into Birkenhead. It’s not enough.
By Anonymous
£14m on a refurbished commercial unit? Really?
By Birkonian
This screams of asset managers filling up empty space. The architects seem to be getting a lot of work off the council. A bit of competitive tension in the appointment might have provided more ideas that the student ideas behind the ‘event space.’
By William Hesketh
No natural light and dark paintwork give a gloomy feel which will be heightened in the grey winter months. Has the appearance of an aeroplane hangar. Disappointing Certainly wouldn’t draw me in.
By Liz
Wirral council…14 million? Are they kidding the hard working tax payers. Is this someone’s vanity project? Head’s should roll. Questions need to be answered.
By San
The £14m figure comes from a government grant for this project.
By Julia Hatmaker
It is never going to work.lt is the wrong location and the rents are too high at present.
By Anonymous
What about the parking problem!? Should be first come first to park ,This is where the real problem should be addressed, Look at all the other retail parks in the area packed !
By Tezdob@hotmail.com
Not the right place for the market. It should be in the centre of town easily accessible the now defunct Marks & Spencer shop would have been the ideal place, accessible from inside Pyramids & outside. I certainly won’t be walking down to the old Argos it’s too far down from the main shopping area. Needs a re-think before any more money is spent.
By Anonymous
Only 13 retail units not very many, people like a market, the old Marks and Spencer’s would have been much better for the traders. To much seating and food area, it won’t draw the crowds in as it did years ago for a long time, several of the currant traders don’t want to move there the council should listen to what the traders want, not what they think think it should look like,
By Sandra Sindall
It stopped being the heart of the Towns centre in the 90s and has been let to run into the ground since. Younger shoppers now have no interest in market shopping. I have heard the bus stop is being placed next to the station another poor move ! Older people will not or cannot walk that far and they will be the people that will use the market.
By Jean
I think the market would be better sited in the old M&S, more central being next to the Piramides
By Anonymous
Vibrant shopping centre? Has this person even been to Birkenhead??
By Chris
Totally wrong location, House of Fraser would’ve been ideal, even M&S store is an improvement on Argos
Is this actually what/where the market traders have elected?
I’m doubtful of success
By Juliej
Why do we need a cocktail bar in the market ?
I think this building is unsuitable and have the market traders had there input ?because they are the ones who will be working in there .
By Carole ,Tranmere
@Julia Hatmaker RE: £14m being the grant. Is there a saving then? Can Place question this please as there is no public visibility on what is being spent?
By Birkonian
The traders weren’t consulted clearly, but some of those traders ARE the market
By Damo
Ironically, this project started badly in 2018, improved significantly and promised to change Birkenhead. Then it went backwards and unfortunately consequently fell through the floor to the traditional Birkenhead make do project that’s reported here. Fair play to Place for trying to promote it but the Council need to hold their hands up here.
By Piermaster
Hopefully no parking charge, give the trader a chance to earn a living
By Ian Mcalpine
Not sure who’s designed or approved this, but looks like they don’t know what they’re doing – a town centre with too much retail space and not enough to fill it, and they put the market (with a decent budget) in a building with no natural light, no outside space, under a carpark, with pretty low ceiling heights, and rubbish visibility – not a secret to success in the making…
By Anonymous
It won’t be a proper market stuffed into the ex Argos building. Market needs Outdoor space.
By C Cairn
Birkenhead needs a proper market site
And not pushed into an old shop that doesn’t and is incapable of housing a good market that birkenhead deserves.
It’s taken now 3yrs to get to this stage and meanwhile the market has had its heart ripped out and theres no atmosphere
W.B.C should be ashamed
Birkenhead needs a proper purpose built market
By Brendan Murphy
I just hope they won’t ruin it like Liverpool did with St Johns were the traders couldn’t afford the new higher rates when it was modernised. The heart of that market was ripped out and was never the same again, then eventually closed, so sad
By Anonymous
This is not what the market traders want. If the council had listened to them it would be in the old m and s. This won’t work.
By Anonymous
It’s been a long overdue this news glad to hear the redevelopment is forthcoming
By Marian OReilly
£14 million ,( they have use £1.5 of that on wasted plans ) let the stall holders have their say ,My opinion , Argos is too small for the market stalls.
By STEVE TRANMERE