Town Centre History
This is a timeline of Kirkby Town Centre’s history from its construction to the present day
This timeline has been gathered from various online sources and the accuracy of the information is limited by the content of that material.
1950-1970s: Kirkby Town Centre is built from nothing into much of what stands today. This included the shopping parade, Kirkby Library, Civic Buildings, Kirkby Suite, Golden Eagle Hotel and much more.
1975: ASDA opens
1979: ASDA closes – remains shut until demolition. Aubrey Weiss takes ownership of premises sometime thereafter.
1990s: New paving, bandstand and famous clock.
1998: Plans for new supermarket approved with Development Securities, but they do not proceed.
2001: St. Modwen becomes part owner of Kirkby Town Centre.
2001: MerseyTram terminal planned for Kirkby
2004: St. Modwen purchases the remainder of the town centre from the other investor and develops plan for a new retail development anchored by Morrisons.
2005: MerseyTram cancelled, but damage done to businesses and organisations in buildings on Cherryfield Drive that are under threat of compulsory purchase, including the closure of the petrol station. Hope remains the project might be restored and the
2005: Knowsley Council rejects St. Modwen proposals, instead supporting a plan by former owner Aubrey Weiss. This plan fails to proceed.
2005: Kirkby Swimming Pool is closed.
2006: Knowsley Council sign an exclusivity deal with Tesco to redevelop the town centre, alongside a 50,000-seater stadium as the new home for Everton Football Club – the project is dubbed “Destination: Kirkby”. The plans will include a new library on the old Kirkby Swimming Pool site and shops on the old Kirkby Library site.
c. 2006: The number of new ’Centres for Learning’ in Kirkby is reduced from 3 to 2, removing the need to build on the old All Saints site on Bewley Drive. This site is included in the ‘Destination: Kirkby” plans.
2008: Development Securities withdraws from battle to regenerate Kirkby Town Centre – it had planned a retail development anchored by ASDA.
2008: The then Labour government in Westminster call the plan in for a public enquiry.
2009: The then Labour government in Westminster reject the plan and Everton pulls out of Kirkby.
2009: The last hopes for MerseyTram are effectively brought to an end, but it will still be referred to on plans at least as late as 2010.
2010: Tesco proposes a retail-only development.
2012: Golden Eagle hotel, petrol station and Cherryfield Nursing Home are demolished after several year of dereliction.
2012: New Kirkby Health Centre built. By the time it opens it has been renamed as the St. Chad’s Health Centre.
2012: Kirkby Market is closed for renovation as a covered market with work due to be complete by Summer 2013. Stall holders are provided with temporary stalls on the streets of the Town Centre.
2013: Tesco scales back its intended development considerably.
2013: Most of the Kirkby site of Knowsley Community College is demolished. Earlier that year KCC had bought additional facilities in Huyton, then shortly after declared they had excess estate.
2014: The InShops indoor market is closed.
2014: Kirkby Market is finally reopened, over 9 months late.
2014: Residents of Cherryfield Crescent are moved into new houses off St. Kevin’s Drive to allow demolition of their homes to take place. Demolition starts in 2014 but will not be completed until 2015.
2014: The Kirkby Suite is closed and remodelled into the Kirkby Centre. All the entertainment facilities upstairs (dance floor, stage, function rooms, bars) are removed and replaced with a library. The Council One Stop Shop moves into the ground floor, vacating the council buildings next door. The Adult Disability Day Service also moves, with its former centre being closed.
2015: Tesco pulls out Kirkby Town Centre, along with many other developments nationwide.
2015: The “Tree of Life” and “Edward’s Elephant” are installed in Newtown Gardens. Later that year three winged thrones are installed to finish off the new Civic Square.
2015: St. Modwen buy back Kirkby Town Centre.
2016: New Kirkby Bus station is built – at least 18 years after public consultations began. Knowsley Council repeatedly stated this could not go ahead without other Tesco developments happening first.
2016/2017: Council offices demolished
2017: Reel cinemas signs for new leisure complex. Morrisons is announced as the supermarket anchor for the retail development.
2017: Gala Bingo closes. Demolition of old ASDA, InShops and Gala Bingo starts.
2018: The old Kirkby Library and social security building, Webster House, are demolished.