Kirkham: Going to market

By Ged Henderson

29 Sep 2021

The old market town of Kirkham is going back to the future.

Its £10m regeneration masterplan is being described as a once in a generation opportunity to transform its fortunes.

Kirkham can trace its origins back to Roman times. Once a booming textile town, it made the sailcloth for the Royal Navy that ensured Britannia could rule the waves.

But with the mills long gone and its high street facing increasing economic challenges, in common with many of our market towns, Kirkhams fortunes dipped.

All the banks closed; shop units and landmark historic buildings stood empty. Something needed to change. That change is now in the air, with an ambitious regeneration scheme that will see Kirkham look to return to its roots as rural Fyldes vibrant market town.

The four-year Kirkham Futures masterplan will be funded through various streams secured by Fylde Council’s regeneration team.

Kirkham has been awarded £6.3m from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) – the only town in Lancashire to win a piece of the pot.

This followed hot-on-the-heels of the £3.6m secured through Kirkham’s successful bid to become one of Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HS HAZ).

With the money, historic buildings will be bought and transformed – with a range of innovative new uses planned.

Major improvements will be made to the public realm and opportunities created to help existing businesses bounce back and thrive post-pandemic but encourage new ones to open.

There is also hope that Lancashire County Council will add a substantial sum in the region of £4.6m to the regeneration cash pot.

Andrew Chatterjee, Fylde Councils Kirkham Futures programme manager, says: There is a lot going on. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Kirkham.

Kirkham is a very old town, one of those places that’s been neglected over the years. 

Some of the buildings on the high street are grand Grade II listed properties full of history and character. The idea is to restore all that and use the Future High Street money to buy some of the empty buildings. We have a full regeneration plan. We want to create a vibrant market town.

That plan includes spending more than £1.5m on Market Square, creating a vibrant area with a public events space. Were really looking at Kirkham going back to its roots as a market town, Andrew explains.

Places like Kirkham are fighting against bigger towns, so they have got to give people something different. For us it is all about placemaking, its heritage and culture, that’s the offer.

The masterplan includes developing a new Heritage and Eco Skills Centre in the former Hillside restaurant, a listed Georgian building, and the creation of an arts centre and community cinema in the former TSB bank. Both have stood empty for some time.

The plan is also to purchase the Kirkgate Centre allowing for the development of key empty shop units and the creation of new affordable town centre housing

The restoration and improvement of traditional shop fronts and homes within Kirkham’s Conservation Area is another major initiative.

Shopkeepers and landlords are being urged to sign up to the scheme to restore their properties to their former historic glory, with grants of up to 90 per cent available.

More than 35 property owners in Kirkham’s central Conservation Area have already signed up, with cash available to reinstate historic features, including timber sash windows, slate roofs, timber shop fronts, brickwork pointing and guttering.

There is also the opportunity to create residential use in the upper floors. The aim is to use local builders and suppliers.

Andrew says: It will really change the look of the place and will probably have the most impact in terms of what people will see, giving a pre-First World War feel.

 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

M&S reaffirms store plans in £50m investment move M&S Gemini Park

M&S reaffirms store plans in £50m investment move

01 Apr 2025

2

Golf course to re-open after £1m upgrade Pleasington Golf Course

Golf course to re-open after £1m upgrade

01 Apr 2025

3

PM+M announces 20 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces 20 promotions across the firm

01 Apr 2025

4

Plans for regeneration project in St Annes St Annes Square

Plans for regeneration project in St Annes

01 Apr 2025

5

Cortus Advisory Group promotes Charlotte Harrington as corporate finance director Charlotte Harrington

Cortus Advisory Group promotes Charlotte Harrington as corporate finance director

01 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April
Chamber logo - new-02.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April

The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, LA1 1QE

08:00 - 10:00

WHN Charity Quiz Night
Evenbrite Quiz 2025.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

WHN Charity Quiz Night

The Stables Country Club, Bury , BL9 1PU

18:00 - 22:00

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin