A new creative space has been opened in Huyton, Liverpool, forming part of the Mayor’s plans to revitalise high streets and communities across the region.
The space has been funded by Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Town Centres Fund – worth £6 million – and will transform a disused former shop into a new space that can be used by artists and small creative businesses. Other projects that have been used to support the Mayor’s plans include a bike and skate track, a sculpture trail, community hubs, and shop makeovers.
Despite being focused on the rejuvenation of the city region’s high streets, the Mayoral Town Centre’s fund has also enabled:
- Masterplan strategies
- Public realm improvements
- Physical and digital infrastructure
- Business support
- Town centre management
- Events and marketing activities#
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said:
“Devolution has given the region the chance to chart our own course with local people choosing the priorities for our area. I launched my Mayoral Town Centre Fund when I was first elected to help rejuvenate our high streets, helping local councils to invest and to inject life back into the hearts of their communities.
“By working with our local authorities we have taken action to ensure they thrive over the next 20 years and now we are starting to see the results in our local communities.
“Empty shop premises are being transformed to create new spaces fit for the 21st century, high streets are being updated and important infrastructure has been put in place.
“This is proper levelling up in action, giving local people the space and support they need to create, to learn and to build a brighter future for themselves.”
The fund allowed each of the local authorities within the Liverpool City Region to develop their own projects, these include:
- Spellow Library in Liverpool being transformed into a new, digitally connected modern advice and learning hub.
- The creation of a Community Land Trust, and a new track for skaters and bikers in Wirral.
- St Helens and Earlstown benefitting from business hubs and workspaces, as well as helping traders to recover from Covid through grants.
- A Shakespeare-themed sculpture trail in Prescot
Councillor Mike Wharton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, added:
“This fund has clearly had a positive effect on our high streets and town centres and the sheer range of schemes is a testament to its success. From health and advice centres to community safety, creative spaces, cycle facilities and shopfront renovation, each of the six local authority areas has found ways to address issues which are important to their residents, adding vibrancy and making our communal spaces more attractive.”
Image credit: iStock
Video credit: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
