Purpose

The current Birkenhead
Market Hall is an aging building, operating inefficiently and the
Council has been considering options to re-locate the market to an
alternative market site for several years.
 
On 6 December 2023,
this Committee received a report on the market and its future
location. It (amongst other matters) agreed to progress the
development of the design of the Princes Pavement option to RIBA
Stage 3, appoint a market consultant to further develop the market
operating model and then bring back the outcome of this work to the
Committee for a decision. The report set out other options that
have been considered in the past discounting them for practical
reasons. This Committee also reviewed the capital cost of
re-locating the existing market to a new purpose-built market hall
on the site of the former House of Fraser Store (HOF). The capital
cost of delivery for the HOF proposal is £31.6 million based
on July 2023 figures and there is an emerging funding gap which
could have a significant impact on the Council’s financial
position. Furthermore, Policy and Resources Committee on 17 January
2024 resolved amongst other matters to reduce the capital budget
for the new market project making the HOF proposal unaffordable.
This report makes recommendations regarding the feasibility of the
House of Fraser options.
 
In recognition of the
recent engagement with Birkenhead Market Traders Association,
Committee also agreed that further feasibility work would be
undertaken on two options, the St John’s Pavement option and
a refurbishment of part of the existing Birkenhead Market site.
 
The Committee also
agreed to pause market development work on the House of Fraser site
whilst this work was undertaken. Issues associated with the
development of the HOF site for the purpose of a market were
reported, including its financial viability.
 
This paper reports
back to Committee on these points.
 
The report proposal
directly supports the Wirral Plan (2023-27) through the key theme
of working together to deliver people focused regeneration.
 

Decision

Resolved (7:4)
– That
 

1. 
The Princes Pavement option to deliver a new
market for Birkenhead, which will require remodelling,
refurbishment and fit out of the interior and some changes toits
external façade and outside areas be approved;
 
2. That the Director of
Regeneration and Place be authorised to:
 

a. 
notify Wirral Growth Company LLP that it does not
wish to proceed with the development of the House of Fraser site
pursuant to the relevant Development Service agreements that have
been entered into between the Council and Wirral Growth Company
LLP;
 

b. 
 allocate up to a
maximum of £13.7m towards the costs of the delivery of the
new market;
 

c. 
Using an appropriate procurement
pathway:
 

 
i. 
procure and appoint a design team to complete the
design for the new market;
 

 
ii. 
place the physical works to deliver the new
market out to tender; and
 

 
iii. 
let the contact to deliver the works to remodel,
refurbish and fitout the interior of the new market and make
changes to its external façade and outside areas as required
to deliver the scheme;
 

d. 
Progress any applications for planning, building
control or highways approval that may be required to progress the
new market scheme;
 

e. 
Undertake a consultation exercise with the public
to inform final design / integrate feedback into the development of
the design for the new market;
 

f. 
On completion of the new market, progress with
the decant of the old market; and
 

3. 
That in taking forward the proposal for the
market, it be endorsed that the Council shall work in close
collaboration with key stakeholders, as appropriate, as part of a
partnership-based approach. This will include other events and
activities related to the market in collaboration with
stakeholders, including market traders as part of the delivery of
the scheme.