BUSINESS cases for two major projects in St Helens - which include provisional plans for the Gamble building - are being submitted to the Government.

The council’s cabinet this week approved the submission of two full business cases to the Government for ‘tranche two’ of the Town Deal projects at its meeting on Wednesday.

They join the six projects which had their business cases put before Government earlier this year and all together could draw in £25 million in investment for St Helens Town Centre.

They relate to plans for "healthy communities" in the borough – with the first business case for a health innovation hub, and the second a youth zone.

The council says this makes up £3 million in the final overall submission.

Youth zone

 

A report to cabinet says the youth zone would be based in the "iconic and much-loved" Gamble Building in St Helens, with a revised project proposing to bring forward innovative, technology-based creative and cultural facilities for young people.

The overarching aim of the Youth Zone project is: “To establish an inclusive and accessible facility within St Helens town centre that provides a focus for leisure and recreation for young people, alongside access to a wider range of interventions promoting enhanced opportunities for accessing support, education and employment.”

Facilities are set to include a flexible function space, dedicated activity pods – for example for music and gaming – alongside smaller breakout spaces.

In a further statement - announcing the bids had been given the green light  by cabinet - the council said: "The final bid submission for the youth zone will focus on bringing a culturally focused offering in St Helens town centre for young people to benefit from.

"The technology-based creative and cultural facilities will provide a mixed role for the community, both with open access for young people providing a warm and welcoming space alongside providing a place for targeted interventions by Children’s Services and other partners."

 

The Health and Care Innovation Hub

 

The Health and Care Innovation Hub project will focus on two elements: a skills academy to enable more local people to enter and progress their careers in the health and social care sector. The Skills Academy.

It will be located within new purpose-built facilities at the St Helens College town centre campus.

The second element will be Business Connect – with dedicated working and meeting spaces for businesses with a health and social care focus to co-locate, network and collaborate, to accelerate growth within this sector.

This will be delivered through the reconfiguration and refurbishment of premises at the St Helens Chamber.

The report to cabinet states that Towns Fund investment is key to securing ‘transformational change’ for St Helens and to support the council’s sustainable growth ambitions as outlined in the borough strategy.

The St Helens Town Deal and associated town investment plan was submitted to the Government at the end of January 2021.

‘Heads of terms’ for the subsequent award of £25 million and the requisite submission of project confirmation documents were agreed by the Town Deal Board in September 2021 and approved by cabinet at its meeting of in October 2021.

The report read: “At its meeting of July 13, 2022, cabinet approved the submission of six full business cases for tranche one Town Deal projects.

“These were submitted to government on August 5, 2022 and are under assessment by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

“It is expected that announcements of successful funding allocations for tranche one Town Deal projects will be confirmed in December 2022 and January 2023.

“This report provides cabinet with the completed business cases for the final two Town Deal projects, which are required to be submitted to Government before the revised tranche two deadline of November 17 2022.”

Funding for the delivery of the Town Deal projects will only be received once the full business cases have been considered and formally approved by Government, and when any related conditions have been satisfied.

It is currently understood that the Government will "advise of the outcome" in spring 2023.

In a statement, Councillor Richard McCauley, cabinet member for regeneration and Planning at the council, said the local authority had worked hard as a partnership with public, private and third sector organisations to create a package of projects that will not just help to transform the town centre, but also benefit residents and business across the borough.

John Tabern, chairman of the St Helens Town Deal Board, added: “When we first came together as a board we had a blank page in front of us but over the course of these three years we have worked together to create a project list of eight different schemes which will bring so many benefits for residents and businesses in St Helens town centre.

"It’s been a real labour of love, looking to retain our heritage as well as looking forward to future needs through these projects and I want to thank everyone who has been involved with the Town Deal Board to deliver huge investment for our borough.”