Combined authority pumps further cash into Kirkby

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has agreed an additional investment of £2.8m to support the second phase of Knowsley Council’s Kirkby town centre regeneration programme.

In December last year, the Combined Authority approved £10m to support the council’s £44m purchase of much of the town centre from St Modwen, its previous partner, triggering the start of a retail development now under way.

This second phase of the project, which was consented in November, will see the development of a six-screen Reel cinema along with food & beverage units at the site of the former Kirkby Library.

The phase one retail comprises 94,000 sq ft including a 45,000 sq ft Morrisons store, a petrol station, a new store for Home Bargains, and drive-through restaurants for KFC and Taco Bell.

Steve Rotheram, metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “When we announced our support for this project last year we made it clear that we would be prepared to back further stages of regeneration. Knowsley Council has come up with a superb addition to the first phase of the scheme that will be transformational.

“I’m so happy to see the regeneration of the ‘Townie’ is moving into this second phase and I’m so proud that we are playing a part in backing this much-needed development to the area I grew up in.”