St Helens town centre interim strategy announced ahead of regeneration

Following the closure of the Hardshaw Centre earlier this month, St Helens' £90m regeneration plans are finally getting going.

With phase one of the plans set to bring a modern market hall, 64 new homes, retail space, a new bus station, and a 120-bedroom hotel into the town centre, there is inevitably going to be some disruption as the demolition and construction works get underway.

Aware of the disruption that the works will bring, St Helens Council have launched an 'Interim Movement Strategy' to keep the town centre moving throughout the transformation.

With amendments to the town's bus station, walking and driving routes, parking spaces, and taxi ranks, the strategy aims to keep connectivity as straightforward as possible and ensure that the town centre remains open for business.

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Temporary bus station

The design plan for the temporary bus hub (Image: St Helens Council)
With the town's current bus station set to close this winter, ahead of the construction of a new 'Multi-Modal Interchange', a temporary station will be installed on Chalon Way West.

As previously reported by the Star, the temporary bus hub will include a travel centre on Foundry Street, seven new bus shelters and new pedestrian crossing points at the Bridge Street and Market Street ends of Chalon Way West.

All bus services that begin at the existing bus station will do so from the new temporary bus hub, although some services will terminate on Bridge Street before entering the temporary bus hub.

Construction of the temporary bus hub will begin in the autumn, with an estimated completion date of early 2025. A full timetable will be published and shared in advance.

New walking routes

Pedestrian access will be cut off along Bickerstaffe Street (Image: St Helens Council)
During the construction works, there will be no access for pedestrians along Bickerstaffe Street between Library Street and Hall Street, once the construction hoardings are installed.

There will also be no pedestrian access along Library Street, between Bickerstaffe Street and Corporation Street.

On Hall Street, there will be restricted access between Corporation Street and Church Street. Pedestrians will be able to walk along this stretch of Hall Street but only one footpath to the east will be accessible, in front of the local shops and amenities.

Signs will be updated to provide clear directions to pedestrians to key landmarks and services, including the temporary bus hub and new taxi rank locations.

Driving and cycling routes

Access will be restricted along certain roads (Image: St Helens Council)
The majority of road journeys through the town centre will be unaffected by the construction works.

The most significant changes are the closure of Bickerstaffe Street to all road users – including service and maintenance vehicles – between Hall Street and Library Street, due to the permanent closure of the Hardshaw Centre car park and the scheduled shopping centre demolition.

Hall Street will become a one-way route (southbound) during the construction phase for all road vehicles between Bickerstaffe Street and George Street.

Parking spaces

Blue badge parking spots across the town centre (Image: St Helens Council)
The creation of the temporary bus hub means it is necessary to relocate the blue badge accessible parking bays currently situated on Chalon Way West and Foundry Street.

To enable construction of the temporary bus hub, access parking bays were removed in July, and will be redistributed at other locations in the town centre.

The majority will be provided in a free accessible car park on Parade Street, with the remainder provided in the existing, pay-and-display car park on Birchley Street.

These spaces are in addition to 94 existing, accessible parking spaces located around the town centre at on-street locations and within car parks.

Cycle parking facilities will also be removed around St Helens bus station, Library Street, Corporation Street, and Hall Street.

Cycle parking facilities are available at various locations throughout the town centre, including St Helens College, St Helens railway station, St Helens Town Hall.

Motorcycle parking bays will also be removed at Foundry Street, Shaw Street, and Cotham Street.

A new motorcycle parking bay has been installed along Church Street, while existing parking facilities can be used on Waterloo Street, North John Street, and other council-run car parks and on street bays.

Two coach bays are provided in Charles Street and Shaw Street.

Taxi ranks

Taxi ranks on Hall Street have been removed (Image: St Helens Council)
In late July, the existing taxi ranks on Hall Street, Bridge Street, and Chalon Way West were removed by the council.

While construction work takes place, the council has made changes to the taxi rank facilities to ensure that they remain convenient and close to areas of high footfall.

New 24 hour taxi ranks now operate on Bridge Street (outside the Market Tavern), Church Street (outside B&M), and Shaw Street (outside Millennium Pharmacy).

These locations add to the 24 hour ranks at Claughton Street and Ormskirk Street.

Other nighttime ranks exist on Baldwin Street, Cotham Street, North John Street, Westfield Street, Waterloo Street, Bridge Street, and Exchange Street.