EARLESTOWN has secured £20m to help transform the town centre.

The successful bid for the Government’s Levelling Up fund will be a huge boost to the regeneration plans of Earlestown.

The funding will contribute towards the town centre’s projects, including the restoration of the iconic town hall, and the redevelopment of Earlestown’s historical market square.

It is Earlestown’s second round of the Government’s Levelling Up scheme, with St Helens town centre also having a successful bid in the first round.

It is among 15 projects in the region to receive grants from round two of the funding, with others including a new university campus in Blackpool and major regeneration of Preston’s parks and Eden Project North tourist attraction in Morecambe.

READ > Huge boost as regeneration project secures £20m boost from Levelling Up Fund

The Government says investment in historically overlooked areas will create jobs and economic growth.

Here we look at what the Levelling Up funding scheme is and what securing the £20m Government fund will mean to the regeneration of Earlestown.

Earlestown regeneration

The town centre received cabinet approval to undergo improvements to the area, with St Helens Borough Council’s plan to regenerate Earlestown receiving widespread support from residents, local councillors, businesses, and organisations.

The project to transform the town centre will see key features of Earlestown being improved, with three of these features the restoration of the iconic Earlestown Town Hall, reimagining the town centre’s historic market square and its markets, and significant improvements to Earlestown Rail Station.

The aim of all these projects is to bring vitality and activity into the heart of the town centre and increase its usage outside of the current market day programme.    

What is the Levelling Up?

Levelling Up was introduced by the Government to create opportunities for areas across the UK.

The £4.8 billion scheme backs local projects to improve and develop communities by:

  • Improving jobs, pay and living standard
  • Making streets safer
  • Protecting health and wellbeing
  • Investing in high streets and town centres
  • Improving local transport

Levelling Up has supported 216 projects across the UK so far, including the regeneration of Earlestown town centre.

What does a successful bid mean for Earlestown? 

The £20m Government funding secured by Earlestown will enable these three key projects to be developed.

This will include the revitalisation of market square, new market canopy, and enhanced public realm plan to bring back vitality to the traditional market town, attract visitors to the town centre, and increase its usage outside of the current market day programme.

The Levelling Up funding will also support the restoration of Earlestown Town Hall and reopen the Grade II listed building as a new hub and workspace. 

Earlestown Rail Station is also set to benefit from the funding, by improving access to the station, bringing the original building back into use, and improving its connectivity to the town centre through better entrance and signage.