Knowsley Council has submitted a prior approval application to demolish the Lathom Road multi-storey car park in Huyton, as part of broader plans to redevelop the town centre. The car park will be replaced by a 'sustainable travel hub' funded by the Liverpool City Region's Transport for City Regions programme.
Details of the Sustainable Travel Hub
The proposed hub will include hundreds of short and long-stay parking spaces, disabled bays, and electric vehicle charging points. It will also improve connections to Derby Road and Huyton's bus and railway stations, according to the council. If prior approval is granted, a full planning application will follow, with demolition expected to begin next year.
Reasons for Demolition
In its planning documents, the council stated: 'Huyton multi-story car park is no longer fit for purpose. The concrete structure is near the end of its life span, the car park spaces are not compliant with modern standards, it lacks EV charging provisions and its current appearance is detrimental to the wider ongoing regeneration of the town centre.' The adjacent commercial units have been vacant for a long time due to lack of demand and poor location, accessed through a covered arcade away from main footfall.
Broader Regeneration Plans
The council has also moved Huyton Library from Civic Way to Cavendish Walk, after acquiring the former B&M store in 2024 and securing £19m of Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Funding through Homes England. A new community hub at Cavendish Walk, approved for planning, will house the library, flexible community facilities, and spaces for leisure, skills, and cultural activities. The ground floor will include a large open library room with comfortable seating and a children's play area.
The wider regeneration plan aims to transform Huyton village into a 'vibrant centre' with a commercial district including a 130-bed hotel, office space, up to 420 homes, and new leisure and cultural facilities. Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd submitted a hybrid planning application in November 2025 for 'St Michael's Place', a seven-acre redevelopment of council-owned land, including the seven-storey Municipal Building. The council plans to move to smaller, more efficient office space, demolishing the existing municipal buildings and the Computer Centre.
Economic Impact
The £200m plans, which also include a central village green, followed a public consultation in spring 2025. The council said the proposals aim to 'revitalise Huyton, attract inward investment, create jobs and deliver long-term social and economic benefits for the local community.' During construction, 155 jobs are expected to be created, and once St Michael's Place is completed, a net total of 260 jobs should be created, including 55 in retail and leisure.
