1,000 jobs may be created by Speke retail park plans

Around 1,000 jobs will be created in Speke if plans for a retail park there are approved.

Bosses at The New Mersey Shopping Park are asking for views on proposals for a new cinema and restaurants at the site as well as more retail space.

A public exhibition will be held this week to allow shoppers to see the scheme and give feedback before a planning application is submitted.

If Liverpool council approve the plans, development company British Land says up to 600 full and part time jobs in retail and another 390 construction jobs would be created.

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David Bloy, planning manager for British Land, said: Prior to submitting a planning application we are committed to consulting with local stakeholders, our retailers, residents and shoppers.

We are holding a public exhibition displaying the proposals and inviting interested parties, including local residents, to tell us their views.

A leaflet to residents, from Mr Bloy, says: We are hoping to make a number of enhancements, which will: improve the look and feel of the shopping park through much needed upgrade works; create a new cinema and restaurants, bringing new leisure facilities to the area; provide additional flexible retail space, to give existing retailers the space they need, as well as meeting the requirements of new retailers and significantly improve the car park layout.

British Land, which has been involved in owning the park since 2005, says it is already in talks with Liverpool council on how best to target jobs for local people.

New Mersey Shopping Park is owned by Speke Unit Trust, which British Land has a large stake in. British Land is also the property advisor for the shopping park.

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1,000 jobs may be created by Speke retail park plans