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• April
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• Amendments made to the future of Kirkby blueprint

Knowsley Council has received amended plans to develop Kirkby from Tesco Stores Ltd.

It follows a period of public consultation in January this year and, after hearing the views of residents, businesses and other consultees, Tesco has made some changes to its plans. Knowsley is now seeking the views of residents, businesses and anyone else with an interest in the town on these amendments.

Tesco has already applied for a new mixed use development including a new football stadium for Everton Football Club with capacity for just over 50,000 seats, retailing (including a Tesco superstore), food and drink uses, hotel, offices, commercial and community uses, more than 3,500 car parking spaces, bus and coach parks, residential development together with new accesses, infrastructure and landscaping.

The changes include removal of the petrol filling station from the development and, north of Cherryfield Drive, further financial and professional services, restaurants and a bar and cafes have been introduced

Cherryfield Drive will also be resurfaced under these amendments and there are further environmental improvements, such as landscaping, throughout the town centre.

Changes have also been made to the transportation plan with park and ride facilities being reduced and additional emphasis on park and walk.

There will also be a slight repositioning of the stadium and the removal of the basement car park from the scheme. This has been replaced with a surface-level car park and new access from Valley Road.

Tesco are also proposing to demolish and clear the site of the old Kirkby swimming pool ready for redevelopment, if the plans are approved.

Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, said: “This consultation is the opportunity for anyone with an interest in Kirkby to give their views on the changes to the plans. I would urge people to come along to view the plans, or visit the drop-in event next week.

“The application offers the chance to significantly develop the town centre and is a one off opportunity to change Kirkby forever, creating thousands of jobs and other much needed regeneration benefits.”

The plans are available to view at Kirkby One Stop Shop, Huyton One Stop Shop and on the council’s web site. Council officers will also be hosting a two-day community drop-in event at Kirkby Suite on April 22 and 23, between 2pm and 7pm. The consultation period ends on May 7.

Findings from the consultation, along with those already received as part of the first exercise, will be considered by Knowsley planning officers, who will present a final report on the application to the Council’s planning committee when they are in a position to make a final recommendation on the proposal.

Editor’s Note
The changes are:

South of Cherryfield Drive

• Slight reposition of the stadium, change in ground levels and reconfiguration of internal road network; Omission of stadium basement and creation of surface level car park; creation of new access/ egress onto Valley Road
• Removal of petrol filling station from development
• Revised residential layout to provide 72 units- all residential elements now in outline form
• Reconfiguration of bus and coach park introduction of bunding
• Additional landscaping and tree planting within and outside application site
• Residential removed from zone 3; food and drink uses proposed only
• Repositioning of sub station and energy station
• Addition of landscape buffer to east of 5 – aside pitches
• Reconfiguration and enlargement of leisure centre car park
• Relocation of substation (1 of 2) and energy centre

North of Cherryfield Drive

• Additional landscaping and tree planting
• Introduction of Leisure Use
• Resurfacing of Cherryfield Drive
• Removal of leisure use from block OU, now retail only
• Introduction of further Financial and Professional Services, Restaurants and Cafes and Drinking Establishment Uses

Ends

For more information please contact the Knowsley Council Media Team on 0151 443 3537