St Helens Council has unveiled its ambitious vision for the transformation of the town centre.

Part of the proposals include the redevelopment of an area around the Sankey Canal into a “modern waterfront area” complete with bars and restaurants.

If all the proposals suggested within the strategy were to be delivered, it would cost in the region of £300 million to achieve, raised through a combination of both public and private funding streams.

The proposals will also see the council seek to take greater control of key assets in the town centre.

Currently less than one percent of the retail space within the town centre is owned by St Helens Council, meaning that the local authority has had little or no control over what development occurs.

With direct intervention, the council intends to have greater control over the type of retail and leisure facilities that are developed in the town centre in the years ahead.

Councillor Barrie Grunewald, St Helens Council leader, says: “There can be no denying that this is a substantial amount of money, and comes at a time when the council, like many others across the country, are having to make changes to services in light of the significant cuts made budget by the government.

“However, we feel that in order to best serve local people and the borough, we need to invest some of the money we do have and work together with private investors to fund the town centre¹s transformation.”

There¹s also an ambition to enrich the borough¹s arts and culture offer, with the potential for a dedicated arts and culture centre included in the canal-side regeneration.

Underused and vacant sites around the town centre boundary including Birchley Street car park and St Helens Central railway station could also be redeveloped as part of the plans.

Cllr Grunewald adds: “It’s important to remember that these plans will not happen overnight, or even over a few months, and although some activities could be delivered over the next 1­2 years, most of these proposals will gradually roll out over the next 10 years.

“The town centre we have now has evolved and grown over many decades, and building a sustainable, modern, vibrant and attractive one will take time.”

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