Work starts on a temporary bus hub in the centre of St Helens ahead of construction of a new bus station as part of a £90m regeneration project. Tony McDonough reports
A new stage of St Helens town centre’s £90m transformation is beginning with the construction of a temporary bus hub.
Main contractor on the regeneration project, Vinci, is building a new bus station in the town. While that is happening a temporary facility will be created with a travel centre, seven bus shelters and pedestrian crossing points.
In August LBN revealed that Vinci, had awarded the first three contracts for enabling works following the closure of the 115,000 sq ft Hardshaw Shopping Centre.
St Helens Council is partnering with ECF on the major scheme. ECF, a partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse. This mixed-used development will also include 64 new homes, a new market hall and 11,000 sq ft of retail space.
Hoarding is now erected around the site of the new temporary bus hub, which is due to open in early 2025. The new pedestrian crossing points will be at the Bridge Street and Market Street ends of Chalon Way West.
Devised by the council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and ECF, working with public transport operators, it will ensure that travel remains safe, easy and straightforward while work is going on.
When it opens, St Helen’s current bus station on Bickerstaffe Street will close to allow demolition to start and make way for the construction of a new, extended and modern St Helens Interchange.
Cllr Richard McCauley Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth & Regeneration said: “Construction starting on site at the new temporary bus hub marks the start of an exciting time for our town. It has set plans in motion for the delivery of a once-in-a-lifetime regeneration opportunity.
“Central to our strategy has been ensuring travel around the town centre remains safe, easy and straightforward, keeping the town centre on the move and open for business while this transformation takes place.”
Last week it was revealed that global hotel giant Hilton is to operate a 120-room hotel in the centre of St Helens as part of the scheme.
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Work on Hampton by Hilton St Helens is set to begin in 2025 with the hotel scheduled to open in 2027. It will offer 96 guest rooms over four floors, plus 16 long-stay guest rooms for families and business travellers and eight accessible rooms.
“The regeneration programme is focused on providing a St Helens town centre for the future as well as offering places for people to live, work and visit,” added Cllr McCauley.
“As such, we’ve provided opportunities for local contractors to work throughout the project, contributing to our local economy.”
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