Specialist machinery arrives on site to begin work on a new £35m bus interchange in Liverpool city region. Tony McDonough reports
Work has started on the £35m bus interchange being built in St Helens town centre.
Specialist machinery has arrived on site as part of the ground improvement and remediation works ahead of main construction activity. This project is being delivered by St Helens Council and ECF, a joint venture comprising Homes England, L&G, and Muse.
Main contractor VINCI Building has appointed a specialist firm to carry out these initial works. Grouting rigs are now operating on the site to check drill and, where necessary, grout any disused and fractured coal seams to reduce the risk of ground movement.
This scheme is being funded through £32m from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, £3.25 million from the Government’s Towns Fund and contributions from St Helens Council.
This interchange for bus passengers, cyclists and pedestrians is part of the wider £100m regeneration of the town centre.
Key features include two fully enclosed, temperature-controlled concourses with warm, spacious waiting areas, a new travel centre, and accessible toilets including a Changing Places facility.
Its design incorporates 11 bus stands (up from the previous nine), level boarding, automatic doors at each departure stand, and screens featuring real-time information for both buses and trains.
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Martin Horton, senior project manager at VINCI Building, said: “St Helens has a mining legacy that dates back to the 16th century, and coal was a driving force behind the town’s rapid growth during the 18th and 19th centuries.
“That activity extended into what became the town centre. Today’s ground stabilisation techniques ensure that this legacy does not create settlement or subsidence issues in the future.”
Surrounding public realm will also be upgraded, better linking the transport interchange with St Helens Central Rail Station and local landmarks including the Gamble Building, Theatre Royal, and the forthcoming Hampton by Hilton hotel.
Cllr Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at St Helens Council, added: “Coal mining shaped St Helens’ growth, supporting industries such as glassmaking that remain central to the town’s identity.
“While mining left its mark underground, we have the means to positively manage that legacy and the transport interchange project is progressing well, turning that history into a foundation for renewal.”