Knowlsey Development Trust  was originally formed by a group of local residents of the Tower Hill Housing Estate (Kirby), who decided that having cut their teeth on a major estate action initiative and built the first public privately financed housing co-operative that economic development was their next target. Whilst the steering group began meeting in 1988 it wasn’t until 1990 that the Trust became a limited by guarantee company.

Although at the time there were many people who questioned their plans to set up a managed workspace project the board pushed on and in 1991 won the support of the then Thatcher Government who agreed to fund the first two phases of work at the now highly successful North Mersey Business Centre.

A combination of urban programme and city action team funding to the tune of £1 million paid for conversion and construction of 30,000 square foot of offices and light industrial units.

KDT never reached its true potential until around the year 2000 when significant surplus combined with a refined business support package meant that it could grow into the sponsor role for Knowsley Enterprise Academy in 2002 and Your Travel Borough Wide in 2004.