The Kirkby Neighbourhood Board met on Friday 20 March 2026, bringing together community, private and public partners to steer delivery of the Government's Pride in Place programme.

Members reviewed a North West Pride in Place event held in Liverpool in January, examined Government guidance covering governance, funding timelines and monitoring, and noted the requirement that at least 51% of board members must live or work within the area. Kirkby’s board already exceeds this threshold, with 66% of members living or working in the town. The newly launched Kirkby Neighbourhood Board website, which went live earlier this month, was also highlighted, alongside short- and long-term activities aligned with the Kirkby Regeneration and Investment Plan.

On Sunday 22 March, the Board received formal confirmation from the Government that the Kirkby Regeneration and Investment Plan has been approved. The submission was lodged in November 2025, and an executive summary of the plan is available to read.

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Developed following extensive public consultation in June 2024 and again from 22 September to 16 October 2025, the plan sets out local priorities for the next decade.

Kirkby has been awarded £19.5m through Pride in Place, funding designed to build stronger communities, create thriving places and empower people to take back control.

Guided by local feedback, the plan sets a vision for 2036 focused on three outcomes: a vibrant town centre that is welcoming, diverse and well served by quality facilities; safe, stronger neighbourhoods with secure places and community spaces that support activity and local life; and empowering people to succeed by creating pathways and opportunities for those in need.

A Kirkby Community Fund will also be established to support local groups and organisations to deliver meaningful help for residents, with further details to follow in the coming weeks.

Max Steinberg CBE DL, Chair of Kirkby Neighbourhood Board, said: "It's great news that the Government has approved the Kirkby Regeneration and Investment Plan, meaning we can now start to progress actions that will address local priorities that will start to make a difference to the people who live, work or visit Kirkby.

"This includes working with partners to bring forward projects that improve community buildings, tackle anti-social behaviour and make it easier for people to travel around Kirkby.

"We will also be inviting community groups to apply for funding through the Kirkby Community Fund to support specific issues in their local area and further details will be shared over the coming weeks on how groups can apply for a grant."