Morgan Sindall Construction named preferred contractor for Kirkby cinema

Morgan Sindall Construction has been named as the preferred contractor for a cinema scheme which forms a key component of Knowsley Council’s development plans for Kirkby town centre.

Following a successful first stage tender exercise, Morgan Sindall Construction has been awarded a pre-construction exclusivity period as the Council’s preferred bidder to undertake further work with a view to being awarded a contract for the build of the cinema.

The multi-screen cinema scheme, complete with three food and drink outlets, will be operated by Reel Cinema and planning permission has already been granted for the complex to be built on the former Kirkby Library site on Cherryfield Drive. It is anticipated the Council will provide further approvals later in the summer to award the build contract and enable construction works to start on site soon after.

The cinema is being built in response to a March 2020 consultation which simply asked “What makes a good town centre?” As well as a supermarket and a better choice of shops, respondents also asked for an improved leisure offer, such as a cinema, and places where young people could go.

This latest phase of development follows the successful completion of a retail development in the two years since the Council took ownership of the town centre. The retail development includes a Morrisons superstore, petrol filling station, drive-thru Taco Bell and KFC restaurants and a huge Home Bargains store.

Richard Potts, area director for Liverpool, Morgan Sindall Construction, said:

Knowsley Council is currently delivering a brilliant regeneration programme for Kirkby. By revitalising the town centre, it is laying the groundwork to make a Kirkby a better place to live, work and play for decades to come. We’re very pleased to have been named preferred contractor for this new cinema, and look forward to working with the council to help make its vision a reality.

Councillor Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s Regeneration and Economic Development Cabinet Member, said:

Our plans for Kirkby Town Centre always extended beyond the retail development and I’m delighted that the next phase of our development plans have taken a significant step forward with the appointment of a construction partner for our cinema scheme.

We have listened to what our residents want for their town and, as you can see with the supermarket and the retail development, we are delivering exactly what they have asked for. Our priority now is to deliver the cinema scheme, and the three food and drink outlets, which will not only provide the facilities our residents asked for, but will also create local jobs for local people.

We are delighted to work with Morgan Sindall Construction on this scheme and look forward to seeing progress over the coming months.

ENDS

For more information about this news release please contact Tom Carlin at Influential on 07827 957740 or email [email protected].