New multi-storey car park to form part of revised St Helens town centre masterplan

A consultation has taken place on major proposals to transform Earlestown and St Helens town centres.

Labour-run St Helens Council and its partner regeneration experts, English Cities Fund (ECF), launched masterplan development frameworks for the regeneration of the two town centres in October last year.

Public consultation on the proposals found that of those who responded, 88 per cent supported plans for St Helens town centre and 94 per cent supported those for Earlestown.

The frameworks set out “multi-million-pound visions and principles” for each area.

Updated plans

The updated blueprints now include high-quality parking provision in St Helens town centre which will cater for shoppers and night-time visitors, along with plans to work closely with traders on the right type of weather-proof market space for the historic Earlestown Market.

A report on the issue will come before the council’s cabinet at its meeting next Wednesday.

It confirms it is now proposed that a new multi-storey car park should be incorporated into the masterplan framework for St Helens town centre to help meet the future parking demand and requirements of the town.

Last year the Chalon Way multi-storey - regarded by many as an eyesore - was demolished as part of long-term plans to open up the area near the Hotties canal for future development. 

The masterplan now sets out that any new facility should be built to modern functional requirements including appropriate provision for disabled users, parent and child, electric charging points, car share providers and should also include space for the storage of bicycles.

Locations for the new multi-storey car park “will be explored” alongside the detailed phased development delivery plan.

The report says, nationally, town centres are being affected by changing retail trends arising from an increase in online shopping, the development of out of town retail centres, an ageing population, changing lifestyles and the rise of convenience-led retailing, such as “click and collect”.

It states all these changes have been “intensified” during and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the document adds that for the borough’s town centres to remain sustainable, they must “adapt” to these changing trends and provide a distinctive and unique offer.

What councillors have said

Cllr Richard McCauley, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said: “Thank you so much to those who took the time to look at the plans, we know that there were more than 38,000 views of the plans online with more than 400 comments made on the back of viewing the plans.

“It is clear that businesses and residents in our borough are behind these plans and this is already building confidence in our local economy that our vision will bring real, positive change for our borough.

“There were some valid points raised in the consultation and we’ve listened to that feedback. While we want to encourage more people to use public transport with improved bus and train connectivity as part of our vision for a greener, more environmentally friendly borough, we recognise the need for quality car parking, particularly in St Helens town centre.

A new bus station is proposed as part of the plans

“The new plan will provide safe parking day and night to make sure visitors can make the most of all attractions.

“We also recognise that people think that town centre living means only apartments, but our plans are to provide a mix that includes town house style family living to add more variety to the types of housing available in the borough.

“Our outline proposals for a partially covered market space in Earlestown have been endorsed and this will enable the plans to be developed with the market traders to find the right size and design of facility to support this jewel of the town centre.

“The message throughout the consultation has been clear to us and our partners at ECF that residents and businesses want to see us get moving, and if the frameworks are approved we hope to put forward planning applications in the coming months.”

First phases of development

The ECF is a national development joint venture between leading urban regenerator, Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England.

The first phase in St Helens town centre will include an enhanced sense of arrival with a new bus station, a new market hall in the centre of the town, a new high quality office space, high quality homes for town centre living, an international hotel brand and extensive public realm improvements.

Meanwhile, the first phase in Earlestown town centre will include enhancing Market Square with a partially covered market area, flexible events space and landscape improvements, as well as improvements to key high streets between the rail station and the Market Square to make the environment more welcoming and pedestrian friendly in support of local businesses

Following the publication of the masterplans, work is continuing to support existing businesses that may be affected by the transformation, alongside progression on a number of acquisitions to deliver the first phase of the masterplans.

At its meeting next Wednesday, the council’s cabinet is recommended to adopt the final version of the plans, note the progress made against the current acquisition strategy and the purchase of key properties required to facilitate delivery of phase one.

Members are also recommended to approve delegation to the executive director of place, in consultation with the cabinet member for regeneration and planning, of compulsory purchase powers for the purchase of land required, if the land cannot be purchased through negotiation with landowners.