Wirral Council spent nearly £1.6m developing plans for a brand new Birkenhead market it is now changing.
The market is one of two projects "subject to substantial change" according to an investment plan that has just been submitted to the government by the local authority. If approved, the plan will allow the council to take part in a trial giving it more freedom to spend £73.5m of government grant funding.
Wirral had previously asked for public opinion on plans to build a brand new market once the old House of Fraser on Grange Road was demolished. But those plans are under review due to the purchase of the Pyramids and the Grange shopping centres in the town centre and rising costs.
READ MORE: Win a Tassimo My Way Machine worth £140 and enjoy your coffee shop favourite drinks at home
READ MORE: Get a free National Trust pass worth up to £50 for your family day out this autumn
Instead, it is now considering moving the market into an old Argos unit within one of the shopping centres spending £24,000 so far. It's understood the investment plan also includes a proposed spend of £6m to refurbish the Argos unit.
The investment plan also includes a plan to use £1.57m of public grant money to pay for getting the development to the stage of submitting a planning application. This figure has also not been made public by the council but has previously been reported by the Echo.
The council received £14.4m from the government in 2021 to put towards building a new market in Birkenhead. According to the investment plan, it has spent £590,600 of this already and expects to spend £13.8m by March 2026.
This spend reportedly includes costs to demolish the House of Fraser building and the existing Birkenhead Market, public realm improvements as well as those proposed Argos refurbishment and design costs for House of Fraser.
According to the plan, "officers have reviewed options including suitable premises in the town centre retail area now owned by the Council. This will be subject to further consultation and approval by elected members on December 6 2023 for consideration and approval. The former House of Fraser site remains in the Investment Plan as a longer term proposal."
Concerns have been raised about the Argos proposal by councillors from different political parties with calls for "a full and frank explanation of what has been going on." Cllr Jo Bird said: "There are brilliant aspirations to regenerate Birkenhead but there is no delivery plan to move forward."
When approached about the figures previously, a Wirral Council spokesperson said: “The future of Birkenhead Market is of paramount importance to Wirral Council. The Market will be a vital part in the regeneration plans for the town centre and it is critical the Market is delivered in the right way.
“At this stage the council continues to look at all options to relocate Birkenhead Market, both in the short and longer terms. As has been reported an initial feasibility study has been completed looking at existing town centre retail premises now owned by the council as a potential temporary site for traders.
"Initial indications drawn up as part of the proposed Investment Plan to be submitted to Government shortly are that this site is large enough to accommodate the Market’s traders. Details of this study are now being finalised to be shared for discussion and feedback at a meeting, to be arranged, with the traders and we expect to begin this very soon."
The Liverpool Daily Post newsletter delves into the biggest stories on Merseyside
Get a free National Trust pass worth up to £50 for your family day out this autumn
