Former House of Fraser site could be new home of Birkenhead Market

Birkenhead’s former House of Fraser site has been earmarked as a potential new location for Birkenhead Market under ambitious plans being proposed by Wirral Council.The council has confirmed it will not press ahead with the option of a temporary market at St Werburghs Square following lengthy discussions with the Birkenhead Market community.This means the current Birkenhead Market continues to be open for business as usual at its site in the town centre, near the bus station, and will stay there and remain trading as normal until a new market building is developed over the next few years.Since the authority bought the market in 2019 it has been looking at how it can once again become the major attraction for visitors to the town centre.The number of retailers in Birkenhead Market has dwindled to around 60 specialist retailers and it is accepted that the current building does not meet the needs of the market community or customers.The proposals being put forward would see the House of Fraser building demolished and the creation of new public realm space linked into St Werburghs Square, with potentially a new standalone Birkenhead Market building alongside a new residential development.This new option has now been informally presented to the market community and with consensus more detailed plans can be worked up over the coming months.The council is committed to having a revitalised market at the centre of the authority’s ambitions for the town centre, which have been set out in the Birkenhead 2040 Framework and which will see massive investment in both the centre and surrounding area of the town over the coming years.The new Birkenhead Market will seek to re-capture the spirit of the historic 1845 market and create a thriving hub of activity for the community. The council’s vision is to create a new landmark building for the town rooted in this tradition, acting as a beacon for the wider regeneration of the area, creating new flexible spaces within a building that is low carbon, sustainable and energy efficient, and exemplifies the transformational vision for the future of Birkenhead.The proposed location for this new landmark takes advantage of the site’s excellent visibility from its surroundings, offering the ability to showcase this catalyst project and attract a wide new audience.The former House of Fraser store closed in March last year after the retail group went into administration in 2019, and was then acquired for £2m by Wirral Council in January 2021.