Local residents and businesses are being asked to have their say on shortlisted designs for Prescot’s Market Place.

Five visions for the currently unused public open space were previously chosen for further consideration after a design competition launched in May and attracted more than 40 submissions.

Architect and landscape architect-led teams around the world entered their ideas to redesign the site as part of the Prescot Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) and the wider regeneration of Prescot town centre.

Shortlisted submissions by Belfast-based Blackstaff Architects, Charles Tashima Architecture in London, Mark Wray Architects in Bath, Manchester’s OMI Architects and Periscope Studio in London will go on public display in August.

From 3-8 August they will be showcased in the windows of the former Grace Lea shop at the entrance Prescot Shopping Centre, and from 10am-2pm on 5 August members of the community will be able to speak to THI representatives at the site.

Votes for the preferred design can be submitted online from 3 August or during the 5 August drop-in session.

Councillor Graham Morgan, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, says: “The high quality designs that have been submitted for Market Place are fantastic and I would encourage residents and business owners in Prescot to have their say on the final design.

“The redesign of Market Place will create a vibrant special space in the heart of the town centre which will complement other amazing developments including the new Shakespeare North Playhouse and the multiplex cinema, making Prescot even more attractive to visitors, residents and businesses.”

The redesign of Market Place is the biggest project of the Prescot THI, which has already invested £1.6 million into the area and levered in more than £400,000 of private investment.

The Royal Institute for British Architects (RIBA) has been overseeing the design competition on behalf of the THI and the final design winner will be announced in August.

Work is expected to start on the project in early 2018, with completion scheduled for early summer 2018.

Prescot THI is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Knowsley Council and other local partners.

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