![\"Craig](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_Craig-Pennington-from-Future-YardArgyle-StreetBirkenheadWirralPic-Andrew-Teebay.jpg\")
Craig Pennington from Future Yard, Birkenhead(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nNew \u00a32m plans have gone in for an extension and outdoor spaceCraig Pennington from Future Yard, Birkenhead(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
New plans have been submitted to take a Wirral independent music venue \u201cto the next level.\u201d Future Yard<\/a>, which opened on Argyle Street<\/a> in 2020, is being supported by more than \u00a32m of funding for the major project.<\/p>\n The plans, which have gone to Wirral<\/a> Council for planning permission, have two key aspects to supporting the Birkenhead<\/a> independent music venue by expanding and improving Future Yard\u2019s outdoor area to play live music<\/a> as well as increasing the amount of teaching and studio space through a two-storey extension. The venue works closely with local schools to educate children about the opportunities available working in the music industry.<\/a><\/p>\n Currently a 300 capacity venue, the plans if approved would be to create a covered 800 capacity outdoor venue and bar area. The venue\u2019s outdoor space at the moment is temporary but a permanent sound and stage setup is included in the new plans.<\/p>\n Future Yard opened in late 2020. Located on Argyle Street, it is a key part of council and community plans to create a cultural and artistic hub rivalling places like the Baltic Triangle.<\/a><\/p>\n A design and access statement for the application said demand had been higher than expected, adding: \u201cBuilding on this success, Future Yard want to create a place where they can present the best new artists all year round, not for just one weekend a year.\u201d<\/p>\n Future Yard director Craig Pennington said the changes would ensure Future Yard\u2019s survival for the next 30 years. <\/a>He told the LDRS: \u201cWe have always had an ambition to have a bigger footprint so we can deliver our aims,\u201d adding: \u201cIt\u2019s a result of the five years we have been here and the things we have learned.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe key message from this to come through is this isn\u2019t saying we want to dominate the area [\u2026] It\u2019s so that we can give a high value programme of music in a way that works for the local community. They are the same thing. It\u2019s about us wanting to work in partnership with local stakeholders.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about taking Future Yard to the next level. It\u2019s about scale. We started off in 2019 with the festival and we have spent the last five years as a venue bringing those ideas to fruition and also about making sure we can provide those live shows and programmes at a scale that makes it a long term and viable proposition for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n He argued venues like Future Yard were helping change people\u2019s perceptions of Birkenhead<\/a> into \u201ca place where exciting and inventive things happen,\u201d adding: \u201cWe have had 100,000 people coming to live events. That is 100,000 people that probably wouldn\u2019t have spent time and money in Birkenhead before.\u201d<\/p>\n The project is to be delivered with more than \u00a32m. This is made up of \u00a3500,000 provided by Arts Council England as well as \u00a31.5m government grant funding<\/a> given to Wirral Council<\/a> as part of the Town Deal programme for Birkenhead.<\/p>\n This funding was originally meant to include plans to create a 1,200 capacity music event space within the Dock Branch Park, a proposed new public space along the former Dock Branch trainline which cuts through central Birkenhead.<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Future-Yard-plans.jpg\")
New plans for Future Yard that could be approved(Image: Architectural Emporium Ltd)<\/p>\n![\"Future](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_The-Future-Yard-music-venue-in-Birkenhead-Photo-by-Colin-Lane.jpg\")
Future Yard could see a new permanent outdoor space created for events all year round(Image: Colin Lane\/Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n