A new £35m bus interchange is being built as part of the £100m transformation of St Helens town centre and locally recycled bricks and tiles being used in its construction. Tony McDonough reports
Work is under way on a new bus interchange to replace the old bus station in St Helens town centre and the project will use locally recycled material in its construction.
Being built as part of the £100m transformation of the town centre, the new interchange secured planning consent in July and enabling works are already under way.
Bricks and roof tiles from demolished town centre buildings are being reclaimed and repurposed on the scheme. The tiles have been palletised and sent for crushing and recycling into a terrazzo tile.
This is a decorative material made from a blend of materials and aggregates – which will feature in the flooring of the new buildings. Bricks and other hardcore leftovers from the old buildings are also being reclaimed and will form part of the earthworks.
Main contractor VINCI Building is delivering the scheme on behalf of St Helens Council and its regeneration partner ECF – a joint venture between Homes England, L&G, and Muse.
Martin Horton of VINCI said: “Everyone on the project team is deeply committed to recycling, and we’re proud to reuse materials wherever possible. We’re actively promoting a circular economy – reclaiming elements such as the former pub.
“Demolition is a careful, systematic process that allows us to safely deconstruct and retain valuable materials. These efforts are significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the new build and minimising its overall environmental impact.”
In early September St Helens Council gave the go-ahead for the town centre regeneration project. Phase one includes a 22,400 sq ft market hall, 120-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, 56 apartments, eight townhouses, 4,266 sq ft of retail space and a five-storey 75,000 sq ft office building.
The St Helens Bus Interchange project is being supported by £32m investment Liverpool City Region Combined Authority along with £3.25m from the UK Government’s Towns Fund and further contributions from the local authority.
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Cllr Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at St Helens Council, added: “Materials salvaged from the demolition of former buildings have an important role to play and are a key part of our sustainability strategy.
“The new transport Interchange will incorporate low carbon materials wherever possible, and our commitment will extend into its future operation, aided by solar panels, green roofs and a new fleet of buses.”