Birkenhead businesses receive funding for shop front improvements
Ten retailers in Birkenhead’s Argyle Quarter have shared a £44,000 Wirral Council funding package towards shop front improvements.
The upgrade has been funded by the Argyle Quarter Commercial Property Improvement Grant Scheme which launched in September this year, inviting applications of up to £5,000 to improve the look of the area and support business growth.
A total of 23 applications, worth £110,995, were received from businesses within the designated locations.
The 10 applicants awarded funding comprise a mix of private sector companies and community-focused organisations.
Their proposals cover improvements such as replacement of awnings and external fixtures, swapping external shutters out for toughened glass and access improvements, plus improved health and safety measures.
The 10 recipients are: Make it Happen; Skin Row, t/a The Lunch Bunch; Istanbul Barber; Wirral Mencap; Phoenix Legal Solicitors; Wish Upon a Party Entertainment; More Than Just Cleaners; WEB Merseyside; Argyle News; and Face Kandi Medical Clinic.
The overall objective of the scheme is to help make the area more attractive, increase footfall and support sustainable business growth in the Argyle and Market Street areas.
This contributes toward the ongoing regeneration of Birkenhead and the wider plans in progress to shape the town’s future.
With many of the businesses in this area being either listed or falling within a Conservation Area, supporting the retention of historic shopfronts and encouraging high quality design of new frontages is a key component of the programme, as well as ensuring an approach to security, lighting and signage that respects the character of the conservation area.
Cllr Tony Jones, Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee, said: “Supporting businesses to grow and thrive is crucial to building a town centre that draws people in.
“Being able to fund these projects will make tangible differences to local companies and the customers that they serve, and I look forward to seeing these improvements implemented over the coming months.”
Cllr Mike Wharton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade, said: “We want our high streets to be busy, thriving places that people want to spend time in and a key part of that is attractive streets with interesting, independent businesses.
“Supporting these businesses on Argyle Street will make it a more welcoming area and hopefully encourage more people to visit and spend more time and money there.”
The grant programme is funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through the city region’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation.
