Market transformation specialists MKT North-West have been appointed by Wirral Council to advise and assist with the launch of Birkenhead Market with the contract running until March 2026.
The project will see the service provider act as a consultant for Wirral Council while plans are further developed for Birkenhead Market, which will open in the space that was once occupied by Argos in the town’s centre. The work comes after the council formally approved plans to proceed with the market’s redevelopment earlier this year.
Works will also include an added value strategy, implanting a plan that is focussed on best serving the people of Birkenhead, traders and the local community. MKT North-West will also advise on the market’s pre-letting strategy, communications, branding and launch.
MKT North-West has also recently delivered a 10-year financial modelling, operation structure options, pre-letting strategy, and public and existing traders engagement strategies. The market specialist has been working closely with Wirral Council to deliver space and design layout planning, as well as collaborating with architects on the design brief which is set to be presented to the public and to traders for review before being finalised in the coming months.
Tony Jones, Chair of ERH at Wirral Council said:
“The relocation of the current market is a crucial part of the wider Birkenhead Town Centre regeneration plan and we’re very pleased to officially appoint MKT North-West as our specialist consultant on the project. Their team offers decades of experience in successfully delivering these types of venues, and we look forward to progressing quickly with plans, ahead of opening in Spring 2026.
“Choosing this new location on The Princes Pavement offers a range of attractive benefits, including ease of access to local transport links and the ability for traders to be unaffected by building works.”
Plans for the new space will allow Birkenhead to benefit from a transformed market offer, which will include blending traditional market elements with service retail and proposed street food kitchens, community spaces, competitive leisure and the flexibility to offer other events and activations.
James Wrigley, COO of MKT North-West said:
“Working on projects like this is precisely the reason MKT North-West was set up as we can see the benefits a thriving market can have on a town. We are based in the Northwest and know this patch well, as well as the requirements of traders, consumers and stakeholders. We’ll be working very closely with the council and our team of experts to explore opportunities and create a market venue that will help with the ambitious wider regeneration plans for Birkenhead and contribute to an extremely positive economic outlook for the town.
“MKT North-West is on a mission to help the public and private sector create venues that not only become a success, but also drive significant wider benefits.”
Markets have been a key focus for regeneration projects and levelling-up efforts, particularly through towns-fund deals. Not only can they be a direct economic benefit to a local authority, but they also act as a driver for private sector growth and prosperity.
MKT North-West, which was set up by industry professionals Raymond Linch, James Wrigley and Chris Philips earlier this year as a market operator and consultancy company, serving both local authorities, regeneration projects and property developers. The business has been working on several briefs within the North-West region, focussed blending traditional retail and service retail with food halls, competitive leisure, co-working and local community strategies for town and cities in the north-west which create vibrant and well-used markets and food halls, that live-up to evolving consumer expectations and appeals to a more diverse range of people.
https://www.mktnorthwest.com/