Morgan Sindall has secured a pre-construction exclusivity period as the council’s preferred bidder to undertake further work with a view to being awarded a full contract for the build of the cinema.
The multi-screen cinema with food and drink outlets will be built on the former Kirkby Library site on Cherryfield Drive. It already has planning permission and an operator, Reel Cinema.
Construction is expected to start “in the coming months”, the council said.
This phase of development follows the completion of a retail development two years after the council took ownership of the town centre regeneration from St Modwen. The 94,000 sq ft retail development includes a supermarket, a petrol station, drive-through fast-food outlets and a Home Bargains. A gym is expected to open in the one remaining unit soon.
Councillor Tony Brennan, regeneration and economic development cabinet member, said: “Our plans for Kirkby Town Centre always extended beyond the retail development and I’m delighted that the next phase of our development plans have taken a significant step forward with the appointment of a construction partner for our cinema scheme.
“We have listened to what our residents want for their town and, as you can see with the supermarket and the retail development, we are delivering exactly what they have asked for. Our priority now is to deliver the cinema scheme, and the three food and drink outlets, which will not only provide the facilities our residents asked for, but will also create local jobs for local people. We are delighted to work with Morgan Sindall on this scheme and look forward to seeing progress over the coming months.”
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