Knowsley Council has an ambitious 10 year development plan for Huyton and work is already underway to progress that plan.
So far . . .
- 14 shop fronts have received a contemporary makeover including new doors, windows, signage and lighting.
- This has helped to attract four new businesses into the Village Centre whilst also helping to support the emerging night-time economy in the village centre that has seen 8 new food and beverage businesses open since 2018.
- A number of key sites have been primed for development with the demolition of a number of outdated buildings including the Council’s Yorkon Building and The Venue (which is now providing additional temporary parking to support the Village Centre).
- A lighting project has illuminated key gateways into the village centre at Archway Road bridge and St Michael’s Church.
- The CCTV network has been enhanced in Huyton Village Centre which is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- The Council has purchased the multi-storey car park and has started a programme of improvements works including painting and general maintenance, enhanced lighting and the installation of CCTV.
- A Development Management Partner – Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd – has been appointed to support the Council to progress the plans for the mixed use commercial district.
Still to come
The Council’s £20m bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund was disappointingly rejected which means that the pace of development isn’t as fast as the Council had hoped. However, the Council and its Development Management Partner Genr8 Kajima are still committed to delivering this project with further plans for Huyton Village Centre including:-
- The delivery of a new mixed-used commercial district with opportunities for a hotel, office space, co-working centre, and residential accommodation.
- The creation of an attractive new Village Green which will connect improved public spaces, an improved station gateway area and high quality event spaces on Derby Road.
- These investment opportunities will be supported by excellent transport access by road, bus, and rail, and will be a catalyst for further development in the Village Centre.
- The proposed development could bring up to 1,700 new jobs and a £50m per year spending boost to the local economy.
Work is already underway on the former Boots building in the heart of the village centre to transform it into a creative and digital industries innovation hub providing flexible workspace for businesses and opportunities to share skills, experience and network. It is expected that the innovation hub will open later this year.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said “We remain committed to delivering our development plans for Huyton. The Levelling Up Fund would have helped us to accelerate our plans, but whilst we have had a setback, Huyton’s development remains a priority for us and we will continue to progress our plans and identify alternative funding streams.
“Huyton has a fantastic location – well connected by road, rail and public transport – and we are continuing to promote a number of properties to potential developers and operators.
“The next step for us will be to develop a detailed business plan working alongside partners including the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, to identify alternative sources of funding to support our plans.”
Alan Hall, Projects Director for Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd, said “We are excited to be working alongside Knowsley Council and our project stakeholders to develop the detailed proposals and fully worked -up business case for the mixed-use district. Huyton Town Centre has a lot of potential, which we are committed to helping unlock in order to create a new destination for the council and local community to work, live and play in.”