Town centre regeneration gets £2m boost from mayor

The first phase will focus on creating 72 affordable homes, a 130-bed hotel, office space as well as a community hub and library

A town centre's regeneration has taken a major step forward with a £2m investment from Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's office.

The funding is part of the £163m Huyton Village project, which promises to deliver a host of economic and social benefits for Huyton, Merseyside, and the wider Knowsley area.

The plans aim to breathe new life into the town centre by introducing a mix of leisure, retail, residential and office spaces.

Rotheram said the investment would "create homes, green spaces, and better facilities that will bring jobs and businesses back into the town centre".

The first phase will focus on creating 72 affordable homes, a 130-bed hotel and commercial office space, alongside a community hub and library.

The proposals will see the demolition of old council buildings, freeing up almost seven acres of land for future development, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The scheme is expected to generate £62m for the local economy and will continue to evolve, the metro mayor's office said.

It also confirmed further phases with the addition of more commercial space and 300 new homes.

The £2m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will finance the purchase and refurbishment of properties on Cavendish Walk, with further plans to create temporary office space for relocated council staff.

This will enable the development of a new, modern "village green" and energy-efficient office building, including the seven-storey Huyton Municipal Building.

Knowsley Council's leader, Labour's Graham Morgan, added: "This is a huge step in our plans to deliver lasting economic and social benefits to Huyton and the wider region."