Wirral Council appoints specialist consultancy MKT North-West as it pushes forward with multi-million pound plans for a new Birkenhead Market. Tony McDonough reports
Market ‘transformation specialists’ MKT North-West is to advise and assist Wirral Council on its multi-million pound plans for a new market in Birkenhead.
In early September the council launched a public consultation on its proposed plans for the new market located in the former Argos unit on Princes Pavement. It also released a number of images of how the market could look.
Initial plans for a new market on the former House of Fraser site on Grange Road were shelved in December 2023. Birkenhead has had a town centre market since 1835 with the current facility based within the Grange Precinct.
The council took over the market in 2019 and revealed ambitions to build a new facility in 2020. Now MKT has secured a contract with the council that will run until March 2026 and will act as a consultant on the project.
Works will also include an “added value strategy”, implanting a plan that is focused on best serving the people of Birkenhead, traders and the local community. MKT will also advise on the market’s pre-letting strategy, communications, branding and launch.
It has also recently delivered a 10-year financial modelling, operation structure options, pre-letting strategy, and public and existing traders engagement strategies.
James Wrigley, chief operating officer of MKT, said: “Working on projects such as this is precisely the reason MKT North-West was set up as we can see the benefits a thriving market can have on a town.
“We are based in the North West and know this patch well, as well as the requirements of traders, consumers and stakeholders.
“We’ll be working very closely with the council and our team of experts to explore opportunities and create a market venue that will help with the ambitious wider regeneration plans for Birkenhead.”
MKT has been working with Wirral Council to deliver space and design layout planning, as well as collaborating with architects on the design brief which is set to be presented to the public and to traders for review before being finalised.
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Tony Jones, chair of ERH at Wirral Council, added: “The relocation of the current market is a crucial part of the wider Birkenhead Town Centre regeneration plan and we’re very pleased to officially appoint MKT North-West.
“Its team offers decades of experience in successfully delivering these types of venues, and we look forward to progressing quickly with plans, ahead of opening in spring 2026.”