Parkside Regeneration secures consent from St Helens Council for work on 1.6m sq ft phase two of its huge logistics and manufacturing development to begin. Tony McDonough reports
Councillors in St Helens have given the green light to phase two of the Parkside Regeneration scheme, comprising 1.6m sq ft of logistics and manufacturing space.
In 2024 the council approved the £80m first phase which comprises 800,000 sq ft of logistics-only space. Parkside Regeneration, the joint venture comprising St Helens Council and developer Langtree, has almost completed site clearance work.
Now the authority has approved a hybrid application that grants detailed consent for enabling and infrastructure works at the former colliery, with building designs to be dealt with under a future reserved matters application.
“This has been a complex process and I’m grateful to all the parties who have helped shape a compelling application, particularly the St Helens Council Planning Service,” explained John Downes, executive chair of developer Langtree.
“We’re on site with the clearance works for the project’s first phase and this consent will give added momentum to our work on local supply chain engagement, labour recruitment and schools engagement.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see our extensive investment in public open space and landscaped trails given detailed consent. Phase two will give the project a different complexion, with the addition of manufacturing space.
“This will boost the variety, type and earnings potential of jobs on site and enable occupiers to tap into another facet of the area’s skills-base.”
This development benefits from being within the Liverpool City Region Freeport, offering tax advantages to companies that set up operations there. In June 2025 a new £60m link road was opened that will serve the complex, supported by £39m of Combined Authority funding.
Parkside Colliery produced almost 1m tonnes of coal a year at its peak, employing around 2,000 people. The first coal was brought to the surface in 1964.
By the time of its closure in 1993, around 800 staff were employed. Employment forecasts for phase one of Parkside alone anticipate the creation of as many as 1,300 gross operational jobs.
The first of a planned series of ‘meet the buyer’ events was held in the autumn for local sub-contractors keen to supply the site as building work ramps up.
More than 80 interview sessions were conducted at the event, which was held at the Brewdog Stadium, for work relating to the forthcoming groundworks for phase one. The successful bidder is expected to be announced imminently.
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Almost 200 firms are registered with the project, with support provided to applicants with regards to main contractors’ pre-qualification requirements. Any business still wishing to register can do so can click here.
Spawforths is the planning consultant for the scheme, with Curtins advising on highways, Chroma as project managers, Fletcher Rae the architects and TPM Landscape the landscape architects. Cundall are the structural and civil engineers.