Thanks @liverpoolpost brilliant article on the Fabric District. As co-author of the ‘SIF’ we were directed to the ‘hot areas’ nearer the middle, but us and Deloitte (yes, Deloitte!) pushed hard for the ‘distinctive neighbourhoods’ approach. Low volume, slow burners win every time. The ‘Ten Streets’/ Northshore needs to go the same way..
Well, it’s an email actually, one I sent to Councillors.
Dear Cllr,
At the ERH meeting on 6 December, the Director of Regeneration, Mr Hughes, submitted a report authored by Marcus Shaw, Assistant Director of Registration entitled “Birkenhead Market Options Study” https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=50109181
The study contains the following passage regarding the vacant Marks & Spencer unit.
2.3 Marks and Spencer - The first option explored for market relocation in 2019, was
the former Marks and Spencer Unit within the Pyramids Shopping Centre. This was
generally popular with market traders. However, at that time it was ruled out, as the
initial capital cost was too great and required surrender of the long lease by Marks
and Spencer. Mutually satisfactory terms could not be agreed. Also, the building
has significant challenges for refurbishment including asbestos. Since the
Pyramids/Grange is now owned by the Council, this option was due to be reviewed.
However, Marks and Spencer has recently sublet the unit for a period of two years to
an Art Gallery.
The news was very disappointing, given Mr Hughes and Mr Shaw had met with Birkenhead Market Tenants Association reps on 15th August. During the meeting, officers stated they would be reviewing options following their purchase of the shopping centre and they asked reps for their opinion regarding market relocation to a vacant unit. The only vacant unit discussed was the M&S unit and BMTA reps made it clear that the M&S unit was the only vacant unit in town large enough to accommodate all the existing businesses renting stall space in the Birkenhead market. Market Traders rent stall area of 1,676 Sq/m and the M&S unit offers rentable stall area of 1,509 Sq/m. (I can supply a floor plan if anyone is interested).
I was perplexed why Senior Officers would grant M&S permission to sublet to Hypha Studio whilst being aware of the traders opinion and the benefits of the M&S unit over the Argos proposal. In an effort to gather more information, I took the initiative and contacted Hypha Studios directly, their response was a…………..surprise.
Sadly, the Birkenhead site is not going ahead because of costs associated to energy bills etc. I believe my colleague Camilla Cole emailed everybody who applied to explain the situation, so apologises if this did not get through to you.
I was shocked by this information! But instead of simply accusing Senior Officers of providing more misleading information, I decided to investigate matters further by hiring a commercial property specialist at my expense. She contacted the commercial estate agent handling M&S Birkenhead. She spoke with their Director of “In Town Lettings” and he informed her.
1: “There is no letting in place currently, which would delay any prospective new tenant taking a new lease with immediate effect”.
2: “M&S have offered reasonable money to exit their tenancy agreement with the landlord.”
All of the information gathered leads me to believe the empty M&S unit is available and I hope Council Officers will have made ERH Members aware of this fact.
Hopefully Officers are currently preparing an update for the general public and will request ERH Members allow them to pursue M&S proposal at the next ERH 22 January.
After all the vacant M&S unit offers WBC the opportunity to meet the 2040 Framework commitment to create an iconic and transformational market in the heart of Birkenhead town centre. A Market that meets the aspirations of the public and the needs of the Market Community.
Please note these figures and encourage Officers to look closely at what they’re doing and why.
The M&S unit offers.
Adequate rentable stall space.
Popular with Traders.
The potential for upper floor bar food with outside balconies.
Popular with new office staff.
Separate night time economy potential.
Popular with new residents.
Fills a long-standing vacant unit.
Is popular with voters.
M&S will pay a considerable amount of the fit out costs.
Relocation can be achieved quickly and hassle free.
Market traders rent a stall area of 1,676 Sq/m.
M&S unit offers rentable stall area of 1,509 Sq/m.
Argos unit offers rent a rentable stall area of 720 Sq/m.
I'm sure you deliberately didn't use the word gentrification, probably because it's so overused, but that's all this is, isn't it? Independents getting priced out of the centre and moving to the outskirts.
great artical in an area i know so well as growing up around here and going to school at SFX on the opposite side of islington i enjoy still walking around here and time moves on and things change but i wish the area well and the people who are laying down there roots here and there buiness,s
As a student nurse residing at the Victorian Liverpool Royal Infirmary in the 1950s (one block north of the Tropical School) we ran up and down London Road all the time, using the little shops and having free passes to movie trade shows at the Odeon. It is so sad to see how the area has been allowed to deteriorate. I found the photo to be disorienting and wondered if it really did show the fabric district. I could see the Roman Catholic Cathedral and Liverpool University Tower, but the angle of the streets made orientation difficult.
Good article, my daughter has just started working in the fabric district. Parr Street studios was highly regarded in the music world so their relocation to Kempston Street is a massive vote of confidence in the area.
It's a joyless urban landscape blighted by poor quality developments and the impregnable islington road. If the city was serious about transforming this area then islington road needs to be narrowed considerably. Also the streetscape is odd, disjointed and unwelcoming. I think the best this area can be atm is as some kind of edgy student area but imo that is a short term solution filling it with transient residents. There's nothing really there for your average resident of the city to go for and navigate the awful urban landscape of behind Lime Street and London Road. Edgy bars, resteraunts and cafes? Yeah there's plenty of them elsewhere in more pleasent environments.
Thanks @liverpoolpost brilliant article on the Fabric District. As co-author of the ‘SIF’ we were directed to the ‘hot areas’ nearer the middle, but us and Deloitte (yes, Deloitte!) pushed hard for the ‘distinctive neighbourhoods’ approach. Low volume, slow burners win every time. The ‘Ten Streets’/ Northshore needs to go the same way..
That Deloitte! https://www.ft.com/content/86e7d370-21b1-4464-9d0f-fbf92b559a4d
Meanwhile in Birkenhead this is what Wirral Borough Council are proposing to do to the traders of Birkenhead Market
1,676 Square Meters of stall area is rented by all tenants at Birkenhead Market.
720 Square Meters of stall area is offered by the new Argos Market.
Conclusion = Argos is 60% SHORT OF CURRENT RENTED STALL AREA.
Are Councillors happy evicting 60% businesses?
Fact Check One:
Stall space rented by Market Traders is 1,676 square meters.
In answer to a Public Question, CllrJones stated Traders rent 18,047 Square feet.
That is equivalent to 1676 Square Meters.
Check Fact Two:
Stall space offered at the Argos Mini Market is 720 square meters.
Market Study Report submitted to ERH.
Paragraph 2.3. Page 10
The plan contains an explanatory key on the left-hand side.
(Plan attached with added calculations)
Please ask the Senior Officers.
1. Why are Officers proposing another market they know is far too small?
2. How much rentable stall space will be offered at the alternative options being examined.
Thanks for reading.
Kind regards
Alan Featherstone.
07495535583
Do you think the old TJs or Wilkinson's would be suitable? Birkenhead town centre is like a ghost town right now, something needs to be done, quick.
The ideal unit would be M&S…
But here’s a funny story….
Well, it’s an email actually, one I sent to Councillors.
Dear Cllr,
At the ERH meeting on 6 December, the Director of Regeneration, Mr Hughes, submitted a report authored by Marcus Shaw, Assistant Director of Registration entitled “Birkenhead Market Options Study” https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=50109181
The study contains the following passage regarding the vacant Marks & Spencer unit.
2.3 Marks and Spencer - The first option explored for market relocation in 2019, was
the former Marks and Spencer Unit within the Pyramids Shopping Centre. This was
generally popular with market traders. However, at that time it was ruled out, as the
initial capital cost was too great and required surrender of the long lease by Marks
and Spencer. Mutually satisfactory terms could not be agreed. Also, the building
has significant challenges for refurbishment including asbestos. Since the
Pyramids/Grange is now owned by the Council, this option was due to be reviewed.
However, Marks and Spencer has recently sublet the unit for a period of two years to
an Art Gallery.
The news was very disappointing, given Mr Hughes and Mr Shaw had met with Birkenhead Market Tenants Association reps on 15th August. During the meeting, officers stated they would be reviewing options following their purchase of the shopping centre and they asked reps for their opinion regarding market relocation to a vacant unit. The only vacant unit discussed was the M&S unit and BMTA reps made it clear that the M&S unit was the only vacant unit in town large enough to accommodate all the existing businesses renting stall space in the Birkenhead market. Market Traders rent stall area of 1,676 Sq/m and the M&S unit offers rentable stall area of 1,509 Sq/m. (I can supply a floor plan if anyone is interested).
I was perplexed why Senior Officers would grant M&S permission to sublet to Hypha Studio whilst being aware of the traders opinion and the benefits of the M&S unit over the Argos proposal. In an effort to gather more information, I took the initiative and contacted Hypha Studios directly, their response was a…………..surprise.
From: Will Jennings <wj@hyxxxxx.com>
Date: 11 December 2023 at 16:47:35 WET
To: alan flowerman <alanflowerman@googlemail.com>
Subject: Re: M&S Birkenhead
Hello Alan
Sadly, the Birkenhead site is not going ahead because of costs associated to energy bills etc. I believe my colleague Camilla Cole emailed everybody who applied to explain the situation, so apologises if this did not get through to you.
I was shocked by this information! But instead of simply accusing Senior Officers of providing more misleading information, I decided to investigate matters further by hiring a commercial property specialist at my expense. She contacted the commercial estate agent handling M&S Birkenhead. She spoke with their Director of “In Town Lettings” and he informed her.
1: “There is no letting in place currently, which would delay any prospective new tenant taking a new lease with immediate effect”.
2: “M&S have offered reasonable money to exit their tenancy agreement with the landlord.”
All of the information gathered leads me to believe the empty M&S unit is available and I hope Council Officers will have made ERH Members aware of this fact.
Hopefully Officers are currently preparing an update for the general public and will request ERH Members allow them to pursue M&S proposal at the next ERH 22 January.
After all the vacant M&S unit offers WBC the opportunity to meet the 2040 Framework commitment to create an iconic and transformational market in the heart of Birkenhead town centre. A Market that meets the aspirations of the public and the needs of the Market Community.
Please note these figures and encourage Officers to look closely at what they’re doing and why.
The M&S unit offers.
Adequate rentable stall space.
Popular with Traders.
The potential for upper floor bar food with outside balconies.
Popular with new office staff.
Separate night time economy potential.
Popular with new residents.
Fills a long-standing vacant unit.
Is popular with voters.
M&S will pay a considerable amount of the fit out costs.
Relocation can be achieved quickly and hassle free.
Market traders rent a stall area of 1,676 Sq/m.
M&S unit offers rentable stall area of 1,509 Sq/m.
Argos unit offers rent a rentable stall area of 720 Sq/m.
I'm sure you deliberately didn't use the word gentrification, probably because it's so overused, but that's all this is, isn't it? Independents getting priced out of the centre and moving to the outskirts.
No mention of Melodic Distraction’s demise either.
And here's where Frankie Vaughan was born. http://tinyurl.com/2cb5hr7h
And, yes, I did see him on the Empire!
great artical in an area i know so well as growing up around here and going to school at SFX on the opposite side of islington i enjoy still walking around here and time moves on and things change but i wish the area well and the people who are laying down there roots here and there buiness,s
Goodolddays.
As a student nurse residing at the Victorian Liverpool Royal Infirmary in the 1950s (one block north of the Tropical School) we ran up and down London Road all the time, using the little shops and having free passes to movie trade shows at the Odeon. It is so sad to see how the area has been allowed to deteriorate. I found the photo to be disorienting and wondered if it really did show the fabric district. I could see the Roman Catholic Cathedral and Liverpool University Tower, but the angle of the streets made orientation difficult.
I’ve just had a wander around the Fabric District and honestly didn’t get a sense of anything. I’ll try again another time.
Good article, my daughter has just started working in the fabric district. Parr Street studios was highly regarded in the music world so their relocation to Kempston Street is a massive vote of confidence in the area.
It's a joyless urban landscape blighted by poor quality developments and the impregnable islington road. If the city was serious about transforming this area then islington road needs to be narrowed considerably. Also the streetscape is odd, disjointed and unwelcoming. I think the best this area can be atm is as some kind of edgy student area but imo that is a short term solution filling it with transient residents. There's nothing really there for your average resident of the city to go for and navigate the awful urban landscape of behind Lime Street and London Road. Edgy bars, resteraunts and cafes? Yeah there's plenty of them elsewhere in more pleasent environments.
Great piece. So good to read a positive (mostly...) story about regeneration in our fabulous city.
" Never mind the quality, feel the width."