PLANS for the regeneration of St Helens and Earlestown town centres will go before a special meeting of the council's cabinet later this month.

St Helens Borough Council has confirmed it is in the final stages of drawing up the proposals, which will be made public.

Previous grand unveilings of proposals have fallen flat after the visions failed to get off the ground, however, the local authority – which has come under new leadership in recent years – insists there is substance to them on this occasion.

The plans are the culmination of work that has followed the council agreeing a 20-year partnership with the English Cities Fund last year.

The partnership's aim is to deliver a sustainable plan for town centre regeneration across the borough.

Council leader David Baines has vowed it will deliver "once-in-a-generation regeneration for our borough".

It is understood they will include driving physical change to the areas, particularly in St Helens, by flattening buildings where new areas for business, leisure and retail can be created.

The changes will not happen overnight, however – with regeneration taking a number of years.

They will dovetail with projects put forward as part of the £25m of funds earmarked for St Helens from the Government's Town Deals Fund.

It is understood business leaders will be given detail of the plans this month.

Project leaders are aware of scepticism among some members of the public due to the disappointment caused by previous false dawns, but they believe the substance of these proposals – along with a concrete agreement with a proven partner – will build confidence.

In an apparent sign of the progress and confidence in the agreement, Sir Michael Lyons, chair of The English Cities Fund (ECF) - which has led transformation in areas such as Salford – was among those who paid a visit to St Helens town centre on Tuesday.

The council say he saw first-hand the opportunities the partnership will bring to transform the borough.

ECF is a national strategic joint venture set up by Homes England, Legal & General and developer, Muse Developments.

Since 2001, it been delivering complex, urban regeneration projects across the UK.

In a statement, leader of St Helens Borough Council, Councillor David Baines, said: “When we first announced our partnership with ECF two weeks later the nation went into the first lockdown.

"Despite the difficulties that the pandemic has brought we have still been working closely together to finalise our vision for the borough and we’re now in the final stages of drawing up those plans which will come before a special cabinet later this month.

St Helens Star:

David Baines with Sir Michael Lyons

“These plans will help to unlock a long list of benefits which will directly impact on those living, working and visiting our town centres over the next 20 years.

“It has been great to finally welcome Sir Michael and the board to our borough and show them how the plans on paper will be put into action on our town centre footprints.

"While the pandemic might have delayed our progress we are now focused on delivering what will be a once-in-a-generation regeneration for our borough.”

Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, said: “Both sides are now focused on the delivery stage of our partnership; real regeneration bringing jobs, homes and re-vitalised shops and public spaces."