SENIOR councillors have approved a £38.55m Town Deal funding submission that could play a big role in shaping the future of St Helens town centre.

Last night the plan – which includes a vision for a health innovation hub, a youth zone, "reimagining" the World of Glass to strengthen its heritage offer and bolder proposals for the Glass Futures innovation project – was approved by St Helens Borough Council.

As the Star has previously reported, public, private and voluntary sectors have worked together through the Town Deal Board and have spent the year developing key projects which make up the Town Investment Plan.

Leaders in St Helens are under scrutiny from the public to deliver a sustainable regeneration plan after false dawns of the past decade, which have left a town centre that many businesses and shoppers believe is ageing and in desperate need of fresh ideas.

St Helens Star:

The World of Glass in St Helens

The picture of struggling high streets and town centres is mirrored in other parts of the country and is why the Government established the town deal scheme.

The council was one of the towns chosen by the Government to bid for up to £25m in funding to deliver transformative projects.

The local authority added that there is also the option to bid for extra funding of up to £50m if a project is deemed to be of national significance.

St Helens Town Deal Board's ambitious plans to further enhance the proposals for Glass Futures – the innovative research centre set to be created on former industrial land adjacent to Saints' stadium – is why the submission will stand above £38m.

A list of projects includes creating new "town centre living options", enhancing the heritage offer at The World of Glass, a youth zone and health innovation hub, new walking and cycling routes and improving digital infrastructure to help businesses grow online.

Further detail will be set out in the bid's submission.

The plan from the Town Deal Board is additional to the partnership between St Helens Borough Council English Cities Fund (ECF), which will aim to deliver long-term transformation across the borough.

A council spokesperson said the bid will be submitted for initial evaluation by the Government with approved projects in the plan moving to a second stage of approval of full business plans.

What councillors have said:

Councillor David Baines, leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: “We are committed to transforming our borough, to creating quality job opportunities, supporting businesses and recognising that town centres will need to radically change to become sustainable for the future.

"This is a collaborative and inclusive vision with many projects that could start soon and we hope the Government recognise that St Helens borough is the right place to invest.”

Councillor Richard McCauley, cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: “The Town Deal Board are all passionate about making our borough a place that recognises its heritage and uses that legacy to innovate for the future.

"I’d like to thank John Tabern, the chairman of the board, for his dedication and leadership throughout the past year.

"Thanks also go to the many partners and businesses across our town who have given up their vital time and shown their commitment to making St Helens borough a place with a bright future.

“The Town Investment Plan is about creating a new green revolution in industry, alongside a focus on health and wellbeing through the regeneration of our town centre through sustainable development and enhancing digital connectivity – something that is at the forefront for most businesses in the past year as a result of the pandemic.

“We cannot guarantee that we will receive every penny of what we are asking for from Government, but through our partnership with English Cities Fund (ECF) we are already committed to transforming our borough.

"Any funding we do receive needs to be combined with match funding for the projects.

"ECF’s support shows we have a delivery partner ready to get started, and with our partners we are confident we can find that match funding to get the projects delivered.

"Meanwhile ECF and the council have started to prepare a masterplan for the town centre which builds on the Towns Fund opportunity.”