Knowsley Development Trust LTD was established in 1990. The organisation was created by a group of residents from Kirkby’s Tower Hill housing estate who had been involved in a very successful housing co-operative project funded by the Government’s Estate Action Initiative. Spurred on by this success they turned their attention to economic development matters, developing plans for a managed workspace scheme on the site of a disused former council depot at Knowsley Industrial Park. 

The group proved to be equally successful in this field, winning the support of the then Conservative Government led by Margaret Thatcher via the Merseyside Task Force established by Michael Heseltine. This resulted in a successful bid for a total of £1,000,000 of funding from the Urban Programme and City Action Team. 

This enabled them to regenerate the site of what was to become North Mersey Business Centre and complete the first two phases of work which involved creation of 30,000 sq. ft of offices and light industrial units. Knowsley Development Trust has never looked back and North Mersey Business Centre has become an outstanding success with may more phases being added over the years. 

It is estimated that since 1990 more than 1,000 businesses have benefited from its facilities and collectively, they have created over 6,000 jobs. The surpluses from the rental the tenants have paid has enabled the Development Trust to fund a wide range of successful community projects and activities for Knowsley residents.