Mayor set to invest £2m to help unlock transformation of Huyton Town Centre

AMBITIOUS plans to transform Huyton Town Centre are set to be unlocked with a £2m investment from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The Huyton Village project is a £163m project between Knowsley Council and urban regeneration specialists Genr8/Kajima.

It aims to regenerate the Town Centre by creating a new leisure and retail space alongside the existing shopping area. The 1st phase includes plans for 72 new affordable one- and two-bed homes for rent, a 130-bed hotel and 85,000sq ft of commercial office space.

To enable the 1st phase, old expensive-to-run Council buildings that occupy a large part of Huyton Town Centre will be demolished, releasing almost seven acres of land for development.

Combined Authority members will this week consider investing £2m to fund the purchase and refit of a row of office and shop units on Cavendish Walk which will be converted into a community hub, library and temporary offices for relocated Council staff.

New modern, energy efficient office accommodation and a vibrant new:- 'village green' will then be created on the site of the former Council offices, which include the seven-storey Huyton Municipal Building.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "We've shown in Kirkby and Prescot what we can achieve when we work together—and now it's Huyton's turn. Alongside Knowsley Council, we're unlocking the potential for Huyton to become a thriving, modern Town that people can feel proud of. This £2m investment is about more than just new buildings —it's about creating affordable homes, vibrant green spaces, and better facilities that will bring jobs, businesses, and life back into the Town centre. It's another step in our mission to ensure every part of our City Region gets the opportunity to thrive."

Cllr Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, and Leader of Knowsley Council, said:- "I'm delighted that the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is supporting our plans for Huyton Village's regeneration. Their commitment will support us to move this transformational programme forward so that we can deliver significant benefits for the people of Huyton, Knowsley and the wider City Region."

The 10-year masterplan builds on successful projects in Kirkby and Prescot, including:- the Shakespeare North Playhouse and associated transport improvements, which used £18.5m from the Combined Authority.

It is forecast to add £62m to the Knowsley economy and result in an extra £2.7m being spent in the Town Centre each year.

Site demolition and enabling works were approved by the Council's Cabinet last month.

The new village green will include:- the relocation of the Cenotaph. A new street-level sustainable transport hub is planned to replace the current multi-storey car park, with electric vehicle charging and cycle storage, funded through an application to the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.

There are also plans for a library and community hub. Later phases propose up to 150,000sq ft of new commercial office space and a further 300 homes.

Discussions are already underway with the Government, Homes England and the Combined Authority on potential funding streams to fast track the development.

Mike Smith, Director at Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd, said:- "We are excited to have the support of the Combined Authority for this transformational scheme which will deliver genuine regeneration for the Region."

RMT welcomes Government focus on buses and outlines priorities for success

ON 17 December 2024, new legislation to improve buses and boost local control of services moved a step closer in the UK, as the Bus Services Bill was introduced in the House of Lords.

Overall RMT Union has applauded the Government's renewed focus on the importance of local bus services and its commitment to reversing decades of decline in the sector. The RMT Union, who represents Bus Workers within the UK, feels this move by the Government acknowledges the significant challenges facing the bus sector in England, including:- service cuts, rising fares, and job losses. These issues have deepened since privatisation and deregulation in the 1980s, which left services driven by commercial priorities rather than community needs.

We are told by The Department for Transport that this Bill will put buses back at the heart of communities, enhance connections to work and vital appointments to improve living standards, and follows the Government's £1 billion investment to increase reliability and cap single bus fares at just:- £3.

The plans, if accepted, will lift the ban on local authorities establishing their own bus companies, making it easier for them to control services, and shape routes to work better for local people. The Bill will also empower local authorities to work alongside private operators to improve bus services, if they choose to not pursue full ownership.

It follows the announcement made earlier this week of new powers for local leaders to similarly be able to better shape rail services to better meet the needs of their communities.

Additionally, the Bill ensures that lifeline bus services cannot be removed or changed without Councils reviewing their ability to serve communities, especially those in rural or deprived areas.

Within a press release sent to the media, the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said:- "It is high time we recognise that local leaders need to be able to make decisions about their buses. The introduction of the Bus Services Bill marks the next step on our journey to overhaul how bus services operate, delivering on our commitment to improve living standards across the country. This is on top of over £1 billion to help improve bus service reliability and frequency; better connecting communities across the country to job opportunities and public services."

However, the RMT Union has stressed the need for guaranteed long term funding, public ownership options, and strong protections for bus workers to ensure the plans deliver real improvements for communities and passengers.

We are also advised that the Government hops this Bill will also help to improve safety for both passengers and staff by mandating that drivers undertake training to identify and respond to threats of violence against women and girls and anti social behaviour on buses and at bus stops. The new powers will mean local transport authorities will be able to emulate the success of places like Manchester where public control has massively improved reliability and patronage. Manchester's Bee Network has seen passenger numbers grow by 5% and service reliability improve since public control began a year ago.

Anthea Sully, Chief Executive, White Ribbon UK, in a related Government press release has said:- "It's vital that women and girls freedom of movement also equates to being safe while travelling. The bus network and drivers play an important role in ensuring the safety of women and girls by being allies, which is reflected in the mandatory training that would be introduced in this Bill relating to knowing how to identify and respond to threats of gender based violence. This will help to change harmful attitudes and behaviours. We all have a part to play to ensure all women and girls can live free without the fear of violence."

The Government has also responded to its consultation on guidance for local leaders seeking public control of bus services. Following positive feedback, new guidance has been published to support local authorities in streamlining the franchising process.

In an ongoing drive to improve buses, the Government allocated £955 million in bus funding last month. This follows an intervention to cap single bus fares at £3, keeping travel affordable, with savings of up to 80% on some routes.

Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, in a Government press release was quoted to have commented:- "Local ownership, local management, and consistent coordinated thinking has allowed us to focus on planning and delivering the best possible network. As our owner, the local authority can guarantee the maximum return on any investment in making bus services even more attractive."

We are told that improving local transport is an essential part of the Government's mission to rebuild Britain and grow our economy. The Government has stressed that it is:- "committed to building infrastructure which will drive growth and opportunity, and improve living standards."

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, has been quoted as within the statements sent out by the Government, has said that:- "Buses are the backbone of our public transport system. The introduction of the Bus Services Bill, and its intention to hand more powers to local areas, will herald a smoother ride for the bus. The Bill will help ensure the bus plays an active role in supporting and growing our local economies and connecting our communities."

Regional Mayors, including:- Andy Burnham and Tracy Brabin, have pledged to use Government support to maintain their local fare caps at below £3.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:- "The Government's recognition of the vital role local bus services play in our communities is an important step forward. Enabling local authorities to take greater control of their bus networks, including through public ownership, could help deliver the affordable and reliable services passengers need. To make this vision a success, it's vital that Councils are given long term funding guarantees to expand and restore services. We also need strong protections for bus workers, with secure jobs, good pay, and fair pensions, to address the current recruitment and retention crisis."

The RMT are saying that in order to ensure the reforms are effective, the Government must:-

• Guaranteed funding... Sustained investment to help local authorities deliver reliable and expanded bus services.
  

• Worker protections... Legislation to safeguard jobs, pay, conditions, and pensions for all bus workers.
  

• A national forum... Establishing a statutory body of trade unions and employers to tackle sector-wide challenges, as recommended by the Transport Select Committee in 2019.

RMT has also stressed that it is:- "Committed to working with the Government, local authorities, and industry to ensure that the bus sector delivers for both passengers and workers."

Please do let us know your thoughts on this by emailing us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.

If you would like to know more about the Whitepaper on Transport Devolution, you can download a PDF entitled:- 'English Devolution White Paper' from:- Gov.UK  or by clicking on here.