The shopping centre was previously purchased in a £1.3m deal
One part of Merseyside is set for “transformational regeneration” after plans were approved for partial demolition of a much-loved shopping centre. The retail site in Prescot town centre will undergo significant change after local councillors agreed to proposals which would see parts of the site cleared and made ready for future development.
Knowsley Council completed the purchase of Prescot Shopping Centre in a £1.3m deal back in 2022 including several nearby units and the car park. The town has been undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years, with the opening of the Shakespeare North Playhouse seen as a major boon, but this represented just one part of the wider Prescot Town Centre Masterplan.
Prescot Shopping Centre occupies a prime position in the town centre and is a key element of Knowsley Council‘s plans to “revitalise” the area. Since acquiring the shopping centre, Knowsley Council has invested in lift repairs to improve accessibility and has welcomed new tenants including FACE, the Banking Hub and Mercutio’s Bar and Restaurant on Eccleston Street.
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The local authority confirmed they have met with potential new tenants for the largest vacant unit in the centre – the former supermarket. According to council officials, conversations have already taken place with retailers, gym operators, and soft play centres, but the ECHO understands none of these have resulted in any offers due to the “unsuitability” of the premises for modern retail requirements.
During a council meeting at Huyton’s Municipal Building earlier this month, the cabinet were asked to review the Prescot Town Centre Capital Works report. The report recommended that councillors should approve a series of financial and contractual agreements which would progress plans for the regeneration of Prescot Shopping Centre.
The two main proposals agreed by elected members will see £1.585m in capital funding allocated from the Strategic Acquisitions and Demolitions investment resource which was approved last year. As part of the masterplan, the council also confirmed they are entering a 12-month exclusivity agreement with a company called Cityheart who are now the “preferred developer” for the site.
The report stated: “Entering into a legal exclusivity agreement with Cityheart would be a step towards realising the transformational regeneration of the site and reducing the risk of the Council holding the Shopping Centre in the longterm.”
In relation to the proposed construction works at the shopping centre, the report added: “The council is now in a position to proceed with the clearance and demolition of parts of the shopping centre site with a view to helping to secure future investment and regeneration.”
During the council meeting, council leader Graham Morgan welcomed the report which was agreed unanimously by cabinet members. He said: “[This] another example of this forward-thinking council who will take over where the private sector has failed and we have some great examples across the borough to deliver excellent facilities for our residents.”