SECURITY fencing has been placed around sections of the Hardshaw Centre as the process towards demolition of the former shopping centre gathers momentum.

The venue closed last month, with discount chain One Below the final store to move out of the premises.

The Hardshaw Centre  - which was bought several years ago by St Helens Council - will be flattened to pave the way for the £90m St Helens town centre transformation programme.

However, before the bulldozers move in steps need to be taken to ready the site.

Among these steps, is the process of stripping out the interior of the centre and disconnecting all the utilities.

Barrriers have been placed along Bickerstaffe StreetBarrriers have been placed along Bickerstaffe Street (Image: Barriers have been placed along Bickerstaffe Street)

Installing hoardings to ensure that the site remains safe and secure is also taking place.

Whilst much of this stage will not be visible to the public, St Helens Borough Council says it is committed to ensuring regular updates are made available so that the progress can be seen by all.

Once preparation is complete, a full-scale demolition of the main structure will then follow, although a timescale on this has not been released at this stage.

As reported by the Star, with significant works due to take place in the area,  town centre ‘interim movement strategy’ has been devised by the council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Merseytravel and ECF, working with public transport operators.

It will aim to ensure that "travel remains safe, easy and straightforward" while the town centre undergoes its multi-million-pound transformation.

Some bus stops have already been relocated as part of the works.

This preparation and demolition works will lead on to the transformation programme to deliver 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.

Plans for St Helens include a new market hallPlans for St Helens include a new market hall (Image: ECF/St Helens Council)

A new bus station will also be created.

The regeneration scheme is being brought forward by St Helens Borough Council and ECF, a partnership formed of Homes England, Legal & General and Muse.