AN ambitious project which will see the creation of more "high-quality life science" jobs in St Helens has been given a £1.1 million boost.

St Helens Council will invest the funds to progress the Project Halo development, which would take up the prime space between Glass Futures and James Roby Way as part of the growing St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus at Peasley Cross.

The money will bring forward plans for the site, earmarked for life science businesses and its development in preparation for end users to take up residence

The life sciences industry consists of companies operating in fields such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and biomedical technologies.Project Halo is a key part of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone, being one of its three designated tax sites offering financial benefits to businesses relocating and expanding in the area.

Project Halo, the council says, has potential to employ more than 300 people in four high quality ‘TechBox’ (laboratory/ innovation/ manufacturing/storage) spaces, which will help to address the borough’s productivity gap and support the delivery of the council’s borough strategy and its inclusive growth strategy.

Project Halo

Lisa Harris, executive director for place services the council, said: “This is a major step forward for Project Halo and will be another piece in the rich tapestry of high-tech developments we’re creating as part of the St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus in this area of the borough.

“The Project Halo site is strategically significant, highly visible and well-connected, benefitting from specialist advance manufacturing campus links to Glass Futures and its connection to Hynet in the future gives further opportunities for businesses to make green, sustainable growth here in our fantastic borough.

“We’ve already seen a 50 per cent growth in life science jobs in the borough over the last five years, with Inovus Medical a prime example, and we expect to see further growth with projects in the pipeline such as the nearby Watson Street redevelopment.

"Alongside the ambitious St Helens town centre regeneration programme, we will deliver a hugely transformed area with fit-for-the-future homes, jobs and leisure opportunities that future generations will benefit from.”