Proposals for a new cinema and mixed-use complex in Hoylake have recently been published.
You may recall the original Hoylake Beacon (website) project that was proposed for the old Hoylake Lifeboat Station. The curtains closed early on that scheme due to planning and ownership issues concerning the piece of land to the side of the old station and over issues (I think) of use of the building – at that time the building was operating as the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum.
The latest proposals are for new buildings on Albert Road, on land behind the old Hoylake Town Hall (the job centre) – some detail here. I presume this proposal involves the demolition of the old fire station, which I do not believe to be a Listed building (see list). That building was previously Jack Rabbits and was recently used as bar called Flat Foot Sam’s.
The proposed scheme will offer “high quality retail, office, residential and leisure space” and a new cinema (by operator Light Cinema, who have a multi-screen cinema in New Brighton). For a more detailed, pictorial view of the scheme, take a look at these outline plans (pdf). It is not clear what would happen to the Pilates studio and the barbers that currently operate in buildings on Albert Road.
As with the original proposals, this is an outline scheme and is obviously subject to discussion and change. As a commercial development the figures will need to be viable for potential investors. Planning consent will be required and some parties might object to all or some elements of the scheme. Even with the train station directly opposite the site and a bus stop around the corner, car parking allocation will be a consideration for both the cinema, retail outlets and offices alongside the new apartments. If successful, the scheme would presumably bring additional visitors (day and night) and revenue to Hoylake and create new jobs.
Comments more than welcome.
This looks like a very interesting and bold pan.
I think this would be most welcome to Hoylake, but parking around there is very limited already. It also looks a small sight for all that is proposed.
I wonder what the local residents think of this especially those close to the station? Not looking forward to this!
The plans look very interesting and the cinema would be a great thing to have in Hoylake. I don’t know how far the design process has got, but none the less I think it is essential that this building has solar panels on it. Given that the buildings are essentially box shaped, the area that solar panels can cover would be quite large. If effective solar panels (not just box ticker, inefficient ones) were to be used on this building it would reduce the demand for electricity from the grid, which is the first step to more responsible energy consumption and I would attend this cinema with my friends regularly only if this was the case. Other than that, exciting plans!
I live going to the cinema but don’t go much as too far away. One on my doorstep would be brilliant like the old flea pit was and hoylake desperately needs the business.
Agree with Sue, it would be a boon for Hoylake, I’d go once a week.
An addition to Hoylake community cinema(which is fab) would be brilliant. So good to have somewhere within walking distance for Hoylake residents! (Reduce pollution +save energy)
I’d also go at least once a week.
Looking forward
I have only just caught up with my emails and reading Hoylake Juntion and I feel very sad that they may pull the old fire station down to make way for a cinema I agree it would be very nice to have one but there isn’t many of our old buildings left in Hoylake most of them have gone the latest is the police station everything has been sold off the last to go will be the council building sad .
I agree with preserving the older characterful buildings, and here the pdf of the plans shows the Fire station being incorporated not demolished.