Councillors in St Helens give the green light for work to start on the ‘once-in-a-generation’ £100m project to create homes, a hotel, a market hall and office space in the town centre. Tony McDonough reports
Contractor VINCI is set to begin construction on the £100m transformation of St Helens town centre after councillors gave the go-ahead for the project.
Covering 24 acres, phase one will replace the former Hardshaw Shopping Centre with a reimagined central district featuring striking new buildings, community spaces, and landscaping.
Led by St Helens Council in partnership with ECF – a joint venture between Homes England, L&G, and Muse – this will see new homes, a hotel, a market hall and office space.
St Helens council leader Anthony Burns said: “This is a defining moment for St Helens – an opportunity to create a reimagined town centre that works for everyone.
“The planning consent will allow us to build a place that reflects our identity and heritage while embracing innovation, where people come together, local businesses thrive, and opportunities are created for future generations.”
Phase one includes a new 22,400 sq ft market hall, 120-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, 56 apartments, eight townhouses, extended transport interchange, 4,266 sq ft of retail space and a five-storey 75,000 sq ft office building.
In June ECF announced additional green space through a more efficient residential layout. Instead of two blocks with 56 apartments, the scheme now proposes a single L-shaped building with 57 apartments. This reduces the development footprint.
A play area for families visiting the town centre will also be located within a newly landscaped public realm beside the steps of the new market hall.
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Backed by a £69.2m from the council, the scheme has also secured £7.24m of UK Government support and £812,000 from the One Public Estate Brownfield Land Release Fund to enable new housing.
Matt Whiteley, senior project manager at ECF, added: “Everyone on the project team is proud to move forward with this landmark regeneration.
“Sustainability is at the heart of the design – from low carbon construction techniques like exposed structural timber in the market hall, to enhanced green infrastructure that invites nature back into the centre of town.”