Knowsley to pull down multi-storey car park
The Lathom Road car park in Huyton town centre is to be demolished and replaced.
Knowsley Council has applied to itself for permission to knock down the four-level facility, which has long been part the plan for the regeneration of the town centre, which is being led by Genr8 Kajima.
Documents lodged with the prior approval notice state that the car park is “no longer fit for purpose”.
The go on to outline the schemes various flaw. “The concrete structure is near the end of its life span, the car park spaces are not compliant with modern standards, it lacks EV charging provisions, and its current appearance is detrimental to the wider ongoing regeneration of the town centre.”
The market that used to operate out of the car park’s ground floor has long since moved and the adjoining commercial units have been vacant for some time.
Architectural Emporium is advising Knowsley Council.
Elsewhere in Huyton town centre, Genr8 Kajima is working up plans for the a £200m regeneration scheme that features plans to convert the Cavendish Walk shopping centre into a community hub and to deliver a 91,000 sq ft council headquarters and a 130-bed hotel.
Hoardings went up around the development zone last week.
Cllr Tony Brennan, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We have been preparing for these works for a number of months and now that we have secured £19.1m from Homes England’s Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land fund. We have been able to proceed quickly with our plans.
“This is a key phase in our wider regeneration plans for Huyton village centre and it’s important that facilities that are needed and used by the local community are prioritised. By relocating the library into the high street, it will make it even more accessible for users of all ages.”
Genr8 Kajima’s also wants to deliver up to 420 homes.
Everything needs to be demolished only the car park
By John
This car park should never have been built in the first place. In my view, it has long been one of the ugliest buildings in Huyton, and residents have had to look at it for far too many years. Often underused, unsafe and a real eyesore.
What were the council and architects thinking when this was approved? I am glad it is finally going, but the bigger question is whether any lessons have actually been learned???
Huyton deserves better design, better planning, and buildings that improve the town centre rather than blight it for decades.
By LordLiverpool