MORE details of transformation plans for St Helens town centre have been revealed, including imagery and information about how a new market hall could shape up.
The team behind the proposals have shared with the Star design ideas for new buildings which they believe will reflect the "proud heritage" of the town.
St Helens Borough Council and its project partner The English Cities Fund (ECF) are working on plans to transform the town centre, with the aim of restoring a genuine sense of pride in the area.
Aware of declining footfall figures and issues facing businesses, St Helens Council is trying to address this with its "once in a lifetime" regeneration plans.
Given the false dawns of the past, there remains a degree of public scepticism about the town centre proposals, but project leaders say that with a development plan and funding in place work is expected to get underway next year.
An image of the modern market hall that is a central part of the transformation has been released ahead of a further round of public consultation.
The area will feature approximately 23 stalls, food and beverage outlets, a bar and performance area.
There will also be a range of other amenities to encourage and cater for visitors through the daytime and evenings.
Aiming to bring more people into the town centre, the council also plans to build new office, retail and residential space, as well as the new market hall, a new and improved bus station and a hotel.
As the first phase of the regeneration plans will begin with the demolition of the Hardshaw Centre, changes have already begun as many businesses have taken up space in Church Square shopping centre, with the Hardshaw Centre now almost empty.
So what design ideas have been revealed?
Jon Matthews Architects has created the masterplan and detailed designs of the three central areas in proposals for the first phase of regeneration, which members of the public can view as part of a new community consultation starting this week.
They are based around a new market hall that will feature approximately 23 stalls, food and beverage outlets, a bar and performance area, along with a range of other amenities to encourage and cater for visitors through the daytime and evenings.
Outside the market hall will be space for play and child-focused street furniture.
The market hall will be flanked by a mixed-use area set around a 150-bedroom hotel, 64 homes and 10,915 sq ft modern retail space, along with a new 49,670 sq ft sustainable office building.
The design of each of the new buildings has drawn inspiration from St Helens’ past, with architectural glass, for instance, a key feature within the market mall.
Art installations that celebrate the town’s history, ingenuity, and individuality will also feature in recessed sections of the ground floor exterior wall of the hotel.
The designs for the facades of the new buildings also reference St Helens' architectural traditions.
What do the council and architects have to say?
In a statement, Sam Ainsley, a project architect at Jon Matthews Architects, said: “There is a strong emphasis on radiating local character.
"For each of the buildings, we’ve looked at detail from existing buildings and distilled it.”
Meanwhile, Stuart Rogers, project director at ECF, added: “We’re looking forward to showcasing the thinking and detail that has gone into preparing for the next stage of this unique project.
"Everyone involved is committed to engaging with the community and setting the town on a path that will create a positive legacy to benefit people for generations to come.”
He added that while the challenges facing St Helens may not be unique – towns centres everywhere have suffered because of changing shopping habits – St Helens does have many strengths to build upon and some unique issues to address.
“There are excellent transport links, and the right sense of arrival and mix of experiential amenities that people need will attract people back into the centre. Local people have also told us that the existing large scale and monolithic indoor shopping precincts have become a barrier to getting around the town.
"Our exciting proposals will restore the historical street pattern in places and help residents, businesses and visitors alike with wayfinding.”
Cllr David Baines, leader of St Helens Council, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for our borough with major regeneration projects at various stages of development, from new schools already delivered and Glass Futures nearing completion, to the Parkside redevelopment and much, much more.
“Our town centres in St Helens and Earlestown are key to our borough and of huge importance to local people. Their rejuvenation is critical to our borough’s future, and I am delighted to see our once in a lifetime plans for St Helens reach the next stage of the process.
“The plans are significant and we want to hear from as many residents and businesses as possible to help us shape the proposals.
“We are totally focussed on providing the right conditions that will revitalise the town centre. With our focus on heritage, children and families, and our high ambitions for the future, we want to support the hundreds of local independent businesses already operating there and the growth of new ones, provide the right infrastructure, and deliver quality spaces and places that local people of all ages can enjoy.”
So when can the public have their say on the plans?
People are invited to have their say on the St Helens town centre proposals across a series of consultation events taking place this month.
Members of the project team, including the architects, will be on hand to talk through the plans and answer questions from the community.
The first events have been confirmed. They are listed here:
• Tuesday 23rd May (11am – 4pm) - 51 Church Street, St Helens Town Centre
• Wednesday 24th May (11am – 4pm) - 51 Church Street, St Helens Town Centre
• Thursday 25th May (11am – 4pm) – 51 Church Street, St Helens Town Centre
• Friday 26th May (11am – 4pm) - 51 Church Street, St Helens Town Centre
• Saturday 27th May (10am – 3pm) - 51 Church Street, St Helens Town Centre
Others will be confirmed shortly, with details posted via the consultation website sthelenstowncentre.co.uk where members of the community can also view the plans and submit feedback.
The consultation will close Monday, June 12 2023.
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