• Part of £163m masterplan which promises £62m economic benefits and £2.7m extra town centre spend each year
• Includes 72 affordable homes, 130-bed hotel, library, travel hub and ‘village green’
• £2m from Strategic Investment Fund to unlock phase one of the project
• Enables relocation of council staff while current offices demolished to free up land for development
• Regeneration builds on successful town centre schemes in Kirkby and Prescot

Ambitious plans to transform Huyton town centre are set to be unlocked with a £2m investment from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Huyton Village 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 first 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 first 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.”