Millions of pounds are to be pumped into the site with no cost to Liverpool Council
Kensington Fields Community Centre & Social Club.(Pic Andrew Teebay).(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A crumbling community centre near Liverpool city centre is to undergo a major multi-million pound renovation thanks to a donation by a charitable foundation set up in the name of the founder of Kwik Save. For decades, Kensington Fields Community Centre on Hall Lane has been occupied by Kensington Fields Community Association (KFCA) under a licence with a peppercorn fee paid to Liverpool Council.
Both parties have acknowledged that the arrangements need to be regularised to protect their interests. Despite this, the centre has become worn down over time and is in need of freshening up.
With finances tight at the Cunard Building, the city council in partnership with the KFCA has been working with the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation (AGCF) who have put a proposal forward to renovate and extend the existing community centre. The foundation was founded by Albert Gubay – who founded the Kwik Save chain of shops – in 2016, when he bequeathed his property empire so that its income could be used for charitable purposes.
As a result, around £2.5m could be pumped into the site that supports the community with family support, financial help and housing queries. The major renovation will also come at no cost to the cash-strapped city.
Having set up Kwik Save in the 1960s, Mr Gubay sold his shares in 1973 for £14million. He then turned his focus to property development, primarily in the retail and commercial sectors.
Kwik Save store in Liverpool.(Image: Trinity Mirror Copyright)
The property portfolio which Mr Gubay established is now owned by The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation and managed by its subsidiary, Derwent Estates, and is the source of income which facilitates the foundation’s grant making.
According to a cabinet report to be considered next week, the existing building is in poor condition and in need of some structural repairs, principally to the roof. As part of the proposed investment, a long-term leasehold arrangement could be put in place for 125 years.
This would require the community association to pass it over to the AGCF who would lease the site back at a new peppercorn rent. The report added: “The council could serve notice to terminate the agreement, take back the car park and let it on commercial terms.
“This would likely necessitate the demolition and potential redevelopment of the existing community facilities. While this is likely to increase the rental income to the council of the car parking area, it would inevitably result in the loss of the building for community use with consequential demolition or mothballing costs to the council.
“The Kensington community centre is in a deprived area of Liverpool. The provision of an improved site for the centre will have a positive impact on the whole community.”
The proposals will be considered by the cabinet when members meet at Liverpool Town Hall on January 21.