Knowsley is experiencing one of the strongest post-pandemic recoveries throughout the UK when it comes to local spending.
Research by the Financial Times shows local spending across the borough is up by 25% compared with pre-pandemic levels, recorded in February 2020. While the research covers spending across the borough’s towns, it’s noted that Kirkby is leading the large majority of the borough’s retail resurgence.
Knowsley Council says the positive upturn “hasn’t happened by chance” and has put the borough in “a very good position”. One reason for the improved figures in Kirkby stems from the opening of the town's first supermarket in over 40 years.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has also invested nearly £13m from the Local Growth Fund to support Knowsley council’s redevelopment of Kirkby town centre. The Combined Authority has also invested £10.5m in the Shakespeare North Playhouse and a further £8m upgrading Prescot railway station and on public realm improvements in the town.
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In October last year a brand new Morrisons superstore opened on Irlam Drive in the centre of the town and is kitted out with its own bakery, butchers, fishmongers, petrol station and market kitchen. The opening of the supermarket is one of a number of changes ushered in by Knowsley Council after purchasing the land in 2019.
Developers St Modwen had owned the town centre since 2015 and had planned for its redevelopment. But following demolition works to clear the site for today’s complex, the works did not get underway.
Knowsley Council then hit out at the developers after it appeared on a list of the worst shopping areas in Britain. In 2019, prior to the council’s purchase, Kirkby placed in the bottom 10 of 1,000 shopping areas ranked by The Mirror, with the poll taking into account factors like empty shop units.
Knowsley Council purchased the land in July 2019 and has since signed deals leading to the opening of the Morrisons, a Home Bargains, Taco Bell and KFC, with the next phase of the development set to deliver on the promise of a cinema.
Residents in the area told the ECHO last October how they'd had to travel out of Kirkby for regular shopping trips, but the ongoing regeneration plans - which include the shops throughout the town centre - signal “the start of a new future for Kirkby.” Traders in the town’s market were however cautious of how they would be impacted by the new development, but shared optimism that the town centre overhaul could generate better footfall.
While the retail picture in Kirkby is buoyant, with tourism set to be enhanced in Prescot when the new Shakespeare North theatre opens in July, other areas across the borough are moving away from a reliance on retail. These include Huyton, which is moving to develop a stronger hospitality offer after aspects of high street decline in the town.
Commenting on the local spending figures, a Knowsley Council spokesperson said: “Knowsley’s economic growth hasn’t happened by chance – the Council, supported by our partners, kickstarted recovery plans at the start of the pandemic which have put us in a very good position.
“Plans included accelerating Kirkby Town Centre’s development by purchasing the town centre which has now delivered, in just two years, a retail development. This scheme alone will generate £15.3m GVA to the local economy. The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot opens in July which is expected to attract 140,000 visitors per year and boost the local economy by £5.3m. An array of food and drink outlets have also opened in the town, creating a night-time economy. In Huyton, 14 commercial properties have benefitted from contemporary makeovers, attracting 8 new food and drink outlets in the last three years alone with further plans to regenerate the area also progressing.
“As well as delivering an engaging events programme to drive footfall in our town centres, Knowsley is the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture 2022 which will see the iconic Playhouse open as well as events celebrating art, culture, sports and food.”
