Hundreds of jobs are to be created in the Liverpool City Region after the combined authority agreed a further £2.8m investment in the second phase of the regeneration of Kirkby town centre.
In December last year, the combined authority approved £10m to support Knowsley Council’s purchase of the Kirkby town centre, which it said kick-started the retail development in the town centre.
This second phase of the project, which already has planning permission, will see the development of a multi-screen cinema and food and beverage outlets on the site of the former Kirkby Library site.
The construction phase of the cinema scheme will create 108 jobs during the construction phase and 95 permanent jobs.
That's as well as 500 new jobs created by the first phase of the scheme, alongside 278 construction jobs.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor, 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.
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“These are uncertain times for all businesses and I’m pleased we have been able to make sure that this vital scheme continues.”
The new retail development is delivering 94,000 sq ft of retail space, including a 45,000sq ft Morrisons superstore, a petrol station, a new store for Home Bargains, and drive-through restaurants for KFC and Taco Bell.
Work on the site has been progressing throughout the pandemic.