Major supermarket chain ‘interested’ in moving to Merseyside town

A community group said Dominick House had been damaged beyond repair and needed to go

A councillor confirmed there is “ongoing interest” from “a major supermarket chain” in the site of a derelict eyesore in a Merseyside town. The revelation comes amid growing calls for Dominick House in Liscard to be demolished.

The building on St Albans Road currently lies empty with multiple windows either smashed or boarded up. The building closed in 2018 with Wirral Council owning the freehold while Prospect Estates owns the leasehold. This means the local authority is not responsible for its upkeep but action could be taken over the condition of the building.

The future of the building has remained in limbo for years but in December 2025, talks were revealed to be taking place between Prospect Estates and a developer.

Options are being explored at the moment, including potential demolition. However officers at a January 19 economy and regeneration committee meeting said talks would have to finish before alternatives could be explored.

The update came as the local authority moves forward its plans to regenerate the town centre in Liscard after years of promises.

This includes the potential for high street improvements to tackle antisocial behaviour, funding for businesses, new housing, as well as possible new community hub.

Officers said there was a viability gap needing to be addressed for any development of Seaview Road car park site to get off the ground, the council was exploring upgrading community facilities in the area, and a community grant scheme will be launched later this year.

At the January 19 meeting, Cllr Graeme Cooper urged the committee to include Dominick House in the £12m programme for the town, adding: “The council taking control of and removing a building that has become symbolic of Liscard’s neglect over many years would be universally welcomed by the local community.”

He said demolition could see a new green space created in the short term and longer term the site could help expand business.

Cllr Cooper also suggested there is “ongoing interest in this by a major supermarket chain” he said was much needed and any conversion to flats “would be putting private profit before people”.

Sarah Spoor, from regeneration community partnership Liscard Together, said the funding for Liscard “will be transformational in improving the appearance of the town centre” and the demolition of Dominick House is critical to this “removing an eyesore and improving the safety of the local environment”. She said the unoccupied building was “beyond reasonable repair”.

During the meeting, Liscard Cllr Janette Williamson said the future of the building should be treated as a priority and “do that quickly given this has gone on for far too long”. The council will now look at “as a matter of urgency”.

Cllr Andrew Gardner agreed the wider regeneration plans “will progress really quickly”, adding: “Not diminishing the challenges, I think it’s easier than Birkenhead by quite a long way and I think this will really pick up pace.”