News
Updates, information and more from around the Knowsley region. Business expansions, new developments and exciting new projects helping to shape Knowsley – we want to know all about it.
2019
100,000 sq ft mixed use development planned for Knowsley
Commercial property developer, Orbit has brought forward plans for a mixed-use scheme at Academy Business Park near Kirkby, featuring nearly 100,000 sq ft of retail, trade counter, and self-storage space.
Knowsley secures £1m from Town Centre Fund
Prescot and Huyton named as two of the first 10 towns to receive a share of £6m fund from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to make town centres fit for the 21st century.
Don’t miss the Knowsley Feelgood Festival and Flower Show this weekend
Much-loved family events return to Court Hey Park on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August.
Knowsley Council confirm acquisition of Kirkby Town Centre
At a special meeting, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet approved plans to buy St. Modwen’s assets in Kirkby Town Centre.
Knowsley secures £2m to improve the key route network
Knowsley Council has secured grant funding of £2 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Growth Fund to progress with the Bank Lane Corridor Improvement scheme in Kirkby.
LJLA expect 725k passengers this summer
As the schools break up for summer, Liverpool John Lennon Airport anticipate that almost three quarters of a million passengers will pass through the airport during their busiest period of the year.
Liverpool Airport secures 5-star rating in global punctuality survey
LJLA is the only airport in the UK to be given the top rating after achieving an on-time performance of 84.6% of flights running on time
Huyton-based Arcola Energy in zero emissions partnership
Hydrogen and fuel cell system engineers, Arcola Energy, automotive clean tech firm, AVID Technology, and global power management company, Eaton, plan to jointly participate in a U.K. government-sponsored program to develop battery and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains for zero emission commercial vehicles.
Knowsley business awarded contract on the Shakespeare North Playhouse
Work has now started on the highly anticipated Shakespeare North Playhouse, and local businesses are already beginning to reap the benefits of this prestigious development.
Extra £4m funding boost to Prescot’s Shakespeare North Theatre
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have pledged £4m, on top of the £6.5m awarded in May 2018 to deliver the ambitious theatre project.
Matalan create 200 new jobs in Knowsley
The jobs boost at their Knowsley warehouse is to meet the growing demands of its e-commerce customers after the retailer revealed a 30% increase in online sales in its latest financial year.
Second phase plans for The Watch Factory.
The site currently operates as an extra care development and bungalows. Expansion plans include apartments blocks designed for the over-55 market, along with family housing.
Two Knowsley businesses honoured at the Echo Regional Business Awards
Blends Ltd who are based on Knowsley Business Park were named Business of The Year award and Walton Flooring Centre, who have an outlet in Huyton, picked up the Judges’ Choice award at the prestigious event.
Plans to expand Knowsley Business Park
Developer Tilstone has put forward proposals to add a further 43,250 sq ft over two plots at Knowsley Business park, including employment space and a petrol station.
Knowsley Council in talks to buy Kirkby Town Centre
The council has begun discussions with developer St Modwen to buy the retail scheme in Kirkby town centre. Their intention is to deliver the scheme as planned, with the existing tenants on board.
Knowsley Safari named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards recognised Knowsley Safari Park at a glittering awards ceremony in Liverpool Cathedral, which saw 19 accolades handed out to the stars of Liverpool’s visitor economy.
Alchemy Business park reaches second phase of completion.
The £8m phase totals 103,550 sq. ft. across three speculative units. Development was supported by a £1.8m Local Growth Fund grant, awarded to the Liverpool City Region LEP and invested through the Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.
Summer Shakespeare at Knowsley Hall
Lord Chamberlain’s men will perform one of Shakespeare’s most popular and best-loved comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at Knowsley Hall this August. The annual event is a highlight of Knowsley’s events calendar.
Two Knowsley Businesses presented with Queen’s Enterprise Awards
Huyton based Roberts Recycling Ltd was awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade for their work exporting new and used clothing overseas. Tratos UK, received the Queens award for Enterprise for a new cable sheathing compound developed at their site on Knowsley Business Park.
Arcola signs up to Huyton Business Park.
The clean-tech business has agreed terms on a 15,000 sq. ft. unit at the business park, which will initially be used to produce systems for a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric double decker buses to be deployed in the Liverpool City Region.
Flintrock completes ‘largest’ speculative development.
Backed by a £9.4 million loan from the Chrysalis Fund and Knowsley Council, developer Flintrock have completed their latest project, the largest speculative unit built in the City Region for a decade.
Construction start date for Prescot’s Shakespeare North Playhouse
Work will commence on the highly anticipated project at the start of April. The theatre and education centre, which celebrates Knowsley’s links with Elizabethan drama and William Shakespeare, will attract hundreds of thousands of new visitors to the borough each year.
Knowsley tops the chart for ‘outstanding’ nurseries
Knowsley is home to more nurseries rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted than any other borough in the city region. More than 40% of nurseries in the borough have received the top rating.
Six Nominations for Knowsley companies
Five Knowsley Businesses have scooped six award nominations in the upcoming Echo Regional Business Awards. Winners will be announced at Liverpool Cathedral on 20 June 2019.
Titan propose 70,000 sq ft expansion to Kirkby Site
If approved, the warehouse space on the site will increase to around 520,000sq ft of industrial and employment space.
Pinion owner smashes Kickstarter world record
Gary Usher, owner of the Elite Bistros group – which includes Pinion in Prescot, – raised his target of £100k in just 11 hours to launch his latest venture, Kala, in Manchester city centre.
Knowsley Ambassadors event shines a spotlight on Apprentices
An all-female roster of speakers lead the latest Knowsley Ambassadors event, talking about apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week. Danielle Flynn, an award-winning apprentice at Jaguar Land Rover in Halewood, spoke passionately about out equal opportunities in the workplace, meeting inspiring women from her industry and empowering other girls to succeed in business.
Liverpool City Region announces intention to bid to host the 2026 Gay Games
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram announced the city region’s plans to attract the prestigious sporting event to the city in 2026 whilst at MIPIM.
Anthony Joshua surprises staff at JLR Halewood
World Heavyweight Champion AJ swapped his boxing gloves for driving gloves when he paid a surprise visit to JLR Halewood. The boxing super star is a Land Rover Ambassador.
Spotlight on Prescot at the LGA Culture Conference
The transformation of Prescot town centre was on the agenda at the Local Government Association Culture Conference. Major investment in the town has seen growth in new businesses and work on the new Shakespeare North Playhouse commences this summer.
Knowsley Council launches consultation for East of Halewood masterplan
Knowsley Council has drawn up a wide-ranging masterplan for the East of Halewood site, which will deliver 1,500 homes across the 200-acre semi-rural site, with upgrades to local education facilities and highways. Two consultation events are being held, and are due to take place on Wednesday 13 March between 3pm and 7pm, and on Saturday 16 March.
Knowsley backs LCR ambition to be the most LGBTQ+ friendly city in the UK
The new LCR Pride Foundation has launched with the support of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, and backing from Knowsley and Wirral councils. The foundation’s focus will be on making the Liverpool City Region the most LGBTQ+ friendly region in the UK and will deliver a full calendar of campaigns as well as social and cultural events, including the annual Pride festival.
Metro Mayor takes a tour of Prescot
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor for the Liverpool City Region, visited Prescot, meeting with local businesses and seeing first-hand how plans are progressing with major projects happening in the town – including the new Shakespeare North Playhouse.
Plans underway for new housing scheme in Kirkby
‘The Maples’ development in Kirkby will combine high quality affordable housing alongside supported living with a range of communal facilities including a hair and beauty salon, lounges, gardens, and courtyard space.
Shakespeare North Interchange gets £8m of funding
Funding of £7.9m has come from the Liverpool City Region’s Strategic Investment Fund and a local contribution of £186,000, taking the total funding package up to nearly £8.2m.
Multi million-pound Prescot improvement package moves a step closer
Eight million pounds in funding is proposed for the Shakespeare North Rail Interchange transport scheme to encourage inward investment as well as support a better retail, leisure, cultural and housing offer in Prescot as part of Knowsley Council’s wider strategic objectives for the town.
Earlsfield public space proposal set for approval
A masterplan for a public open space at the Earlsfield Park development in Huyton will go to Knowsley’s planning committee with a recommendation for approval. The plans for the playing fields include nine football pitches, a clubhouse, improved vehicle access, a new car park, new paths, and landscaping.
Plans for 800k Sq ft. Knowsley development
Peel Investment (North) have submitted plans to develop a vacant site adjacent to Knowsley Business Park bringing an estimated 1,000 new jobs to the borough once the development is complete.
A first look at the progress of LFC’s new Kirkby training ground
The club’s new 9,200 sq ft complex in Kirkby will unite training facilities for the first team and youth operations for the first time in the club’s history.
City Region cash boost for Halsnead Garden Village.
Twelve million pounds of funding has been confirmed to pave the way for Halsnead Garden Village in Knowsley – one of the most significant developments in the region.
Liverpool Airport Passenger numbers highest for seven years
Liverpool John Lennon Airport handled more than 5.1m passengers in the past year, attributing the boost in passenger numbers to a raft of new routes to destinations across the globe.
