March start confirmed for St Helens demolition programme
Contractor Vinci is set to begin clearance work to enable a new transport interchange, while a £7.5m contract to pull down the Hardshaw Centre has also now been activated as the council and ECF push forward a £100m+ transformation.
St Helens is working with development partner ECF on the regeneration of the town centre, with the phased process of demolishing vacant, acquired buildings around the existing bus station to start from 10 March.
This will prepare the ground for work to begin on building a new transport interchange and Gamble Square, in advance of the existing bus station fully closing in spring and a new temporary bus hub at Chalon Way becoming operational.
As set out when the first detailed planning application for the £100m programme was submitted in December 2023, the 24-acre phase one is to include a 120-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, market hall, 64 Passivhaus homes, a 75,000 sq ft office space, and 11,000 sq ft of modern retail space, along with an overhaul of public realm.
The council-owned 115,000 sq ft Hardshaw Centre shopping mall, which closed in August last year with most retailers moving to Church Square, is also in line for demolition.
Vinci now has the OK to press on with the initial works, which involve stripping out the interior before safely dismantling the roof, floors and exterior walls. The former shopping centre occupies some 169,000 sq ft of land on a plot set between Church Square, Hall Street and Bickerstaffe Street.
Over the past few weeks Vinci’s team has been completing site investigations ahead of the demolition activity, with the enabling works package also including for the establishment of perimeter hoardings and ground clearance down to a depth of 2.5m in preparation for the construction phase.
First though, is the interchange. St Helens’ new transport hub will be built on an extended footprint of the current bus station and will better connect St Helens’ bus and rail services with improved walking and cycling links.
The project is being delivered with £32m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, combined with Towns Fund cash.
LCRCA’s funding was confirmed last autumn. The design team is led by Austin Smith Lord and Planit.
The interchange project is set for completion in 2026, coinciding with the introduction of the first franchised bus services in St Helens. To be rolled out across the city region by the end of 2027, the new franchised network will allow greater local control of fares, timetables and routes.
Cllr Richard McCauley, cabinet member for inclusive growth & regeneration, said: “A huge amount of work has already taken place across St Helens town centre to facilitate earliest delivery of our ambitious transformation plans – including the diversion of existing utility apparatus and creating essential new electricity infrastructure, clearing vacant buildings and construction work for the temporary bus hub. But these forthcoming demolition works are set to be the most visible sign of progress so far and the exciting things to come.
“This year will see a vast amount of change and progress made towards our goal of a renewed and vibrant town centre. We remain committed to working with our partners at ECF, Vinci Building and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to keep the town centre residents, visitors, businesses and the travelling public well informed and to minimise disruption.”
In 2020, St Helens Council and ECF – the long-term regeneration specialist partnership between Muse, Homes England and L&G – entered into a 20-year partnership focused on the borough-wide transformation of St Helens, a programme that has also seen major progress made with the regeneration of Earlestown, for which a £30m regeneration plan was approved in December.
On the St Helens town centre plans, Matt Whiteley, senior development manager at ECF, said: “The project has impressive sustainability credentials. That starts with the Hardshaw Centre demolition and will run through every aspect of the scheme, with the revitalised town centre featuring new public spaces, better walking routes, and places where nature can flourish in high quality landscaped areas.”
Hope there are doors on the bus station to stop the cold winds and perhaps heating, better bus stations are badly needed
By David Rolph
LCRCA Funding should mean use of local skills. A wasted opportunity in the design teams.
By Charlie Muggins
So St Helens Council who have teachers in some junior schools having to pay for certain essentials, such as pencils and underwear and food for some kids and we have already spent £35 million on this site and it hasn’t even started yet.. The first thing the council needs to do is make sure that St Helens people can receive phone reception before they start investing vast amounts of money.. Just like the bicycle lanes they have coned and designated that no one uses..
By Mark