Progress continues to be made on the Kirkham Futures regeneration scheme, as Fylde Council’s elected members voted unanimously to approve a capital expenditure of £4m for the Phase 1 Public Realm works and to award the contract to Eric Wright Civil Engineering Ltd following a successful procurement exercise.
The Phase 1 Public Realm works for Kirkham will replace existing public realm and infrastructure, such as street furniture, in the area of Market Square and Poulton Street. Included in the contract is a five-year maintenance and repair commitment by the contractor, after which such upkeep would be included in existing revenue budgets. A lighting scheme to be implemented in Market Square will be maintained and repaired within the existing revenue budget provision.
Councillor Liz Oades, Chair of the Kirkham Futures Steering Group, said: “I am delighted that the Phase 1 of the Public Realm Scheme is underway. These vital enhancements will greatly contribute to our overall aim of rejuvenating the town centre and will help spur economic growth within the town. The COVID pandemic has affected all spheres of our lives over the last two years, and I am beyond pleased that this element of the Kirkham Futures plan is bow ready to proceed.”
The final plans and drawings for the Phase 1 Public Realm Works will be signed off by Fylde Council’s Head of Projects and Regeneration, in consultation with the Kirkham Futures Steering Group.
The Kirkham Futures masterplan is funded through Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HS HAZ) scheme, the Government’s Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) together with funding contributions from Lancashire County Council and Fylde Council and Kirkham Town Council.
The project aims to re-energise Kirkham town centre by:
- Restoring and repurposing key buildings
- Improving the visual appearance of shops, streets and open spaces
- Introducing diverse uses of buildings to create new opportunities for retail, residential, employment, training and skills
- Encouraging new leisure and restaurant businesses to create a more diverse offer and enhanced evening economy
- Supporting sustainable economic and cultural growth
- Improving the health and wellbeing of residents through a range of cultural engagement programmes
For more information about the Kirkham Futures project, visit the website at www.kirkhamfutures.org and sign up to the Fylde Council newsletter.
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