Woolworths building to be replaced by new market hall in St Helens

Earlier this week, the Star reported that it had been 15 years since the iconic retail brand left the high street in St Helens and Earlestown.

Dozens of readers reacted to the article and responded with their memories of the stores, which were hugely popular places for groceries, homeware, and sweet treats in the town centres.

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Woolies moved into a purpose-built building in 1960 (Image: St Helens Local Archives)
First opening along Church Street in 1923, Woolies moved into a purpose-built store in 1960 after its growing popularity in the town.

However, after 85 years in St Helens, Woolies was forced to leave its purpose-built premises on December 27, 2008, with the business collapsing as debts spiralled to an eye-watering £385m.

The closure led to 60 job losses in St Helens and 16 in Earlestown, which has since turned into Heron Foods on Market Street.

In St Helens, the various discount stores and indoor markets that took up space in the Church Street building never had the same impact as Woolies, and it has become a symbol of the declining high street in recent years.

The empty building has been a symbol of the declining high street (Image: St Helens Star)
Although the building was taken over by chartered surveyor Cosey Homes in 2020, and had planning approval to turn the building into flats, it has been earmarked for demolition by the council.

Along with the Hardshaw Centre, its demolition is planned to take place in the early part of this year, and planning documents show that the Woolies building will be replaced by a new market hall.

The proposed market hall in place of the Woolworths building (Image: St Helens Council Planning Portal)
In addition to the new homes, offices, retail space and hotel that are planned to come to the town centre, the market hall will include 28 stalls and offer a variety of opportunities for food, drink, retail and traditional market units.

The council have previously stated that the market hall, on the corner of Church Street and Hall Street, will be built to reflect the town's original market constructed in 1850, with the opportunity for "spill out space" onto Church Square. 

An outdoor "rain garden" and "play space" are proposed to open out to Hall Street, while the Church Street M&S building set to be saved and a new pedestrian street created between this and the market hall.

The proposed market hall which will replace the Woolies building (Image: St Helens Council)