Work could soon begin on an £1.6m refurbishment project which could see an inflatable play park at Kirkby town centre’s largest remaining empty unit.
Knowsley Council has approved plans in principle to let the building at 132 Cherryfield Drive to operator First1Football as part of its ongoing drive to regenerate the town centre.
At 36,000 sq-ft, the building is the largest vacant unit left in the town centre and sits in a key location along Cherryfield Drive close to the town’s bus station.
The £1.6m set aside for refurbishing the building was previously approved by cabinet, a move the council said would enable the unit, in significant need of repair and modernisation, to be let out.
READ MORE: Elle Edwards latest: Live updates as Connor Chapman trial enters final stages
Nearly £1m has been set aside for dealing with a catalogue of internal repairs and refurbishment works with nearly £700k earmarked for the front of the building.
Repairs include £400,000 to renew flat roof coverings, £40,000 to repair, service and recommission the existing goods lift, £10,000 for asbestos removal and nearly £100,000 to remediate defects to the walls, floors and staircase at the site.
With almost £120,000 to be spent on “making good” and removing partitions and nearly £300,000 on contingency, preliminaries and professional fees, the total cost of repair works for the unit would come in at £950,000, with a further £710,000 to be spent on the frontage – all to be funded from money set aside by the council for capital investment and Kirkby’s redevelopment.
In April, rumours began spreading the building could be used for residential accommodation, although spokesperson for Knowsley Council later confirmed the building was intended to become home to an inflatable play park on the ground floor, with space for a food market on the upper floor.
Planning permission has already been granted for works to be carried out on the building, and a delegated decision published at the end of last week stated a contractor had now been found.
Work could commence in the coming days and is expected to last until March 2024, bringing the possibility of a key new leisure site for Kirkby town centre one step closer.
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
