A LANDMARK investment of £69.2 million for St Helens town centre is expected to be confirmed by senior councillors next week.

A cabinet meeting will take place to finalise the biggest single investment in St Helens town centre.

Cabinet members are set to approve funding for phase one of a large-scale transformation project being delivered in partnership with The English Cities Fund (ECF).

Council officers are recommending approval of the funding that is presented to the meeting on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

The aim of the investment is to kickstart the regeneration of St Helens town centre, which has suffered from a combination of changing shopping trends and economic turbulence over the past 15 years.

The plans for the first phase of regeneration aim to create:

  • a new market hall flanked by a mixed-use area that includes a 120-bedroom globally branded hotel
  • 64 new homes and 11,000 sq. ft. modern retail space to be delivered in the initial phase.
  • Different elements will all be linked together by extensive improvements to public areas, alongside a new and extended bus station.

Regeneration bosses hope the new buildings and public spaces will collectively act as a "catalyst for the necessary and radical transformation of the town centre whilst improving the viability of future phases".

The scheme is the centrepiece of the St Helens Town Investment Plan and is part of the council’s medium-term budget.

Support is also being made available in the form of £21.49 million in grants from the UK Government and equity investment by ECF.

Specifically, there are two related UK Government Town Deal grants totalling £10.49 million. The phase one proposals have also been awarded £0.812 million from the One Public Estate Brownfield Land Release Fund to help deliver the residential element.

In addition to this backing, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has also provided financial support for the new St Helens bus station, which will be extended and renewed with a new modern interchange to encourage public transport and active travel usage.

Project supporters believe that as well as creating new buildings and spaces to be enjoyed by children and families, the "redevelopment will deliver significant social value in direct support of the council’s recently adopted Inclusive Growth Strategy.

Phase one is expected to have a strong impact in terms of employment and gross value Added (GVA). Projecty leaders at the ECF believe there could be 485 new jobs across the development once it is fully occupied, generating £23.2 million GVA each year.

The cabinet meeting will also review ECF’s annual report, which details progress on the scheme and wider activities of the strategic partnership with the Council.

Max Bentham, poject drector for ECF, said: “Everyone on the team is committed to bringing to life the vision of an attractive, successful, and highly sustainable town centre, a place that local businesses and residents can enjoy.

"As a partnership, our approach is centred around taking a holistic view of creating places that really benefit the communities for the long term.

"In St Helens, we can leave a positive legacy for generations to come with a fantastic scheme that will restore a genuine sense of place and pride in the area.”

As reported last month, a Planning Inspector acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has ruled Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers can be used by the council.

They are required to acquire properties that need to be demolished to make way for the new bus station.

The decision, following the public inquiry held in St Helens on Tuesday 8 August, confirmed the council can use its CPO powers where private agreements cannot be reached.

If cabinet give approval of the proposed investment, the next step will be ECF, in conjunction with the council, advancing the detailed designs ahead of a reserved matters planning application submission in the Autumn.

The appointment of a main contractor will be finalised which will pave the way for the first phase of the works.

Project timeline

• Demolition of The Hardshaw Centre - Spring 2024

• Construct a temporary bus station – Spring 2024 to Autumn 2024

• Commence construction of Phase 1A - Autumn 2024

• Complete construction of Phase 1A – Autumn 2026