Ascent signs for 24,000 sq ft in Knowsley

The Liverpool city region’s visitor economy is now worth more than £4.5bn, supports 53,500 jobs and last year welcomed 64m visitors, its Local Enterprise Partnership has said.

Mike Ashley’s retail group has picked up the stricken department store business just hours after it was put into administration, in a deal that sees it take over the group’s full estate of 59 stores.

Steve Rotheram, the Metro Mayor for Liverpool City Region, will today announce a £5m Town Centre Fund as the first round of investment in supporting improvements in urban centres.

House of Fraser has withdrawn as an anchor tenant of Chester's £300m Northgate scheme while the retailer’s shops in Altrincham, Birkenhead and Carlisle are to close in seven months’ time as part of a company voluntary arrangement.

Nexus Planning, supported by building consultancy Black Cat, has secured planning permission for Sandon Global’s new headquarters at the Manor Park Industrial Estate in Runcorn.

A joint venture for modular housing with Urban Splash and a 70,000 sq ft speculative industrial project with Harlex are among the schemes close to becoming a reality in Wirral Waters, Peel Land & Property has announced.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has approved a package of £25m to support 15 highway schemes that will make improvements to its key route network.