Redevelopment of unviable shopping centre will bring ‘new confidence’ to town

Combined Authority funding to back next stage of scheme at Prescot Shopping Centre

The first phase of demolition of a Merseyside shopping centre is complete with hopes its redevelopment will bring “new confidence” to the town. In 2022, Knowsley Council completed the £1.3m purchase of Prescot Shopping Centre.

It was revealed in September last year how the “outdated and underused” areas of the site were being demolished while the former Stephenson Print building has already been flattened. These works form part of a wider regeneration scheme for Prescot as Knowsley Council aims to “revitalise” the area.

Now more than half a million pounds of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority funding is being used to enable the next stage of the scheme. This could include further demolition work to make the site more financially sustainable.

Work began in the old Somerfield supermarket to make it ready for future development last September. Cabinet members endorsed a proposal to accept £600,000 from the city region’s regeneration capacity building fund to draw up plans for a reimagined shopping centre site.

Cllr Tony Brennan, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said the funding would take the council’s ambitions for Prescot Shopping Centre to the next stage. He added how the authority’s decision to buy the centre had been “bold” after “years of private ownership and under investment.”

Cllr Brennan said the first phase of demolition of the site had been completed alongside urgent maintenance and repair works. He said the redevelopment of the centre would bring a “new confidence” to Prescot.

The cabinet member said in its previous state, the centre did not meet the expectations of residents and business and was not deemed “financially viable to maintain.” Further consultation will now move forward with a view to progression towards a formal planning application.

As part of this, the centre will include a new library, museum and cultural offer, alongside an increased capacity in the car park. Members also accepted a major cash injection from the government’s housing agency to transform Huyton Village.

Cllr Brennan said the acceptance of £19m from Homes England for the redevelopment of Cavendish Walks in the heart of the town centre was a “landmark moment for Huyton’s future.” Demolition of existing sites including a multi-storey car park and relocation of the town’s library is also proposed.

As part of the project, the council owned land will be renamed ‘St Michael’s Place’, in recognition of the nearby St Michael’s Church landmark and the wider history of the area. A high point was reached for the scheme when Homes England approved a bid for £19m through the Brownfield Infrastructure and Land (BIL) Fund.

This funding will unlock the regeneration site by enabling essential demolition works, ground works, infrastructure installation, and redevelopment of 6–8 Cavendish Walks into a new library and community hub, alongside delivery of the Village Green.

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