Readers offer suggestions for prominent building up for auction

Earlier this week, the Star reported that a commercial property at the corner of Borough Road has been listed for auction on property website Rightmove.

Although the building has fallen into disrepair, the listing states that the property, located on the edge of St Helens town centre, offers a "huge potential for redevelopment".

With a current layout of 8 commercial shop units, Rightmove has set a guide price of £40,000, for the auction, which is due to take place on Monday, May 13.

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The building is currently laid out with 8 commercial properties (Image: Rightmove)
On the Rightmove website, it states that there is the potential for extensions and additional storeys to be installed on the property.

The information further states that the building could be changed into residential use, subject to planning permission.

The property's auction guide price is £40k (Image: Rightmove)
With hundreds of Star readers responding to the auction report, many shared the sentiment that it is about time that the "eyesore" building was redeveloped.

Others commented on the quality brickwork and shape of the building and offered suggestions of what they think or would like the property turned into.

Star readers offered suggestions on its future (Image: Rightmove)
Suggestions from Star readers:

Matty Williamson said: "Make it into a open front shop, hairdressers, wedding dress shop, that building has loads of potential."

Karl Cunliffe said: "It would make a cracking looking pub if it was done up."

Tony Cunliffe said: "It lacks parking space so options are limited as it would only have footfall, perhaps a traditional pub would work instead of these chain pubs that are expensive."

Tris Ben said: "There’s not much option for it because of the location, it’s got no parking, it’s surrounded by extremely busy roads. Perhaps flats for homeless? Plenty of non-drivers would like that location, good transport links and close to the town centre."

Carly Robins said: "It'll just be carved up into flats, or a HMO. The whole area needs attention."

Similarly, Arthur Cunliffe said: "It’s uneconomic to develop apart from turning it into flats. There is no footfall so shops are out, there is no parking, so commercial or small industrial is out. It’s a dilemma for anyone brave enough to take it on."

Kevin Goddard said: "It should be saved and restored the brickwork is still good and has potential if they get some parking to go with the plot."

Les Marshall said: "About time, it's a very old building and deserves restoration, parking could be created at sacred heart site?"

However, Ellis Smith said: "It should be flattened and turned into green space. The access in/out isn’t ever going to be DDA compliant owing to the proximity of the road

Rob Wainwright said: "I love the shape of it. Like to see it renovated if that's even possible. There seem to be a few buildings shaped this way in the area. Let's keep them!"