Birkenhead Market to remain at heart of town centre

Birkenhead’s historic market will remain at the heart of the town centre in its proposed new temporary location.

Birkenhead Market’s traders are set to be moved temporarily while a new bespoke market building is constructed.

The council acquired the market in December 2018 to protect its long term future and is now putting the new market at the centre of its regeneration plans for Birkenhead which are being developed alongside the Wirral Growth Company, the 50:50 joint venture between Wirral Council and national urban regenerator Muse Developments.

Now the market could be moved just a few yards from its current location to ensure traders remain central to the town’s retail heart.

The temporary solution is intended to be a hybrid model based on an indoor and outdoor market and the preferred option is to use the shop unit at 2 St Werburghs Square along with developing an outside market on St Werburghs Square itself. The aim is to allow for continuity and a smooth transition while the new market development takes place.

The scheme is being supported by the Future High Streets Fund.

In December 2020 it was announced that the council’s bid from the Fund for £24.6m to help with the major transformation of Birkenhead had been successful.

At the time of submission of the Future High Street Fund bid, Europa Boulevard was being scoped as a temporary market, however, due to financial constraints and concerns from a number of traders that it was too far away from the town centre have meant this option was discounted.

Councillors on the economy, regeneration and development committee have voted to recommend the council moves forward with the St Werburghs Square option for the temporary relocation of the market.

Chair of the committee, Cllr Anita Leech, said: “The market is the heart of Birkenhead and should remain so.

“This option will allow traders to remain at the very centre of the town while work is able to move ahead quickly to build a new home for Birkenhead Market and allow it to thrive for many generations to come.”