Preferred location for temporary bus station chosen in St Helens

After an "extensive option assessment" by the council and stakeholders, Chalon Way West has been selected as the preferred location from which bus services will operate during the construction of the town’s new and improved transport interchange.

The new station will eventually replace the current one on Corporation Street, with the temporary bus hub said to be a "key part of the strategy to ensure travel around the town centre remains seamless" when the regeneration works begin later this year.

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Chalon Way West has been chosen as the preferred location (Image: St)

The regeneration project, which is set to bring new homes, office and retail space, a market hall and hotel into the town centre, is set to begin with the demolition of current buildings such as the Hardshaw Centre.

With the remaining Hardshaw occupants expected to vacate the building by summer, the site will then be closed off with protective hoardings before the planned demolition work in the autumn.

The council say that exploratory surveys are set to take place in and around the Hardshaw Shopping Centre this week as the countdown to its demolition begins.

This will include the drilling of test holes at five separate locations around the outside of the centre, which will be planned so that all major traffic routes and pedestrian walkways will be maintained or diverted.

Leader of St Helens Council, Cllr David Baines (Image: David Baines MP)
Cllr David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council said: “People have told us how keen they are to see progress on delivery of the existing Phase One regeneration scheme and the site investigation works are one of the first physical signs of the construction phase starting in earnest.

“We are pleased to say that following a detailed review alongside our partners, Chalon Way West has been selected as the ideal location for a temporary bus hub that will help to keep St Helens moving during the town centre’s exciting transformation.

"With easy access to shops, amenities, and employment areas in the town centre it is both the most cost-effective and least disruptive option and we look forward to work beginning to create the temporary hub as soon as possible.  

“We do however recognise that any major town centre regeneration work will cause some inevitable temporary disturbance, for which we apologise in advance.

"We will seek to minimise any harm caused in every way possible, including through the provision of environmental enhancements and mitigations. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure St Helens town centre is fit for the future, offering a well-connected and attractive place for people to live, work, visit and invest.”

A new and improved bus station is seen as a vital part of the council's regeneration plans (Image: Stock)
Any necessary planning applications for complementary elements of the temporary bus hub – including a ticket office and driver welfare facilities – will be submitted in the coming weeks ahead of an announcement on a comprehensive town centre interim movement strategy later this year.

Ten trees are planned to be removed for the construction of the temporary bus station, although replacement trees will be replanted around St Helens town centre, in addition to the 117 new trees and 265m of hedgerow that will be introduced as part of the main development.

A further Reserved Matters planning application will be submitted later this year for the creation of the town centre’s new multi-modal transport interchange, which will be delivered with financial support from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.