Plans for a transformative transport interchange and civic square in a Merseyside town have been lodged for approval. The St Helens Interchange, backed by funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government Towns Fund, aims to enhance travel connections within the town.
The combined authority says the new interchange will improve the experience of bus users, cyclists and pedestrians, making a greener transport hub at the heart of the town. The project is set for completion in 2026, aligning with the launch of the first franchised bus services in St Helens.
VINCI Building, collaborating with St Helens Borough Council and its development partner ECF on the regeneration of the town centre, is submitting a Reserved Matters planning application as the next step in the process.
This application comes after a public consultation conducted at the end of 2024, where respondents expressed support for the proposed new Interchange and Gamble Square.
Public feedback, comments and requests have informed the design response and have been integrated into the reserved matters planning application, reports .
The interchange itself will boast two fully enclosed concourses providing sheltered bus waiting areas, a new travel centre and accessible toilets – including a Changing Places facility.
Councillor Anthony Burns, leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: "These plans are one of the key parts of our vision for transforming St Helens town centre. Equipping St Helens borough with a well-connected, integrated, and accessible public transport system is a key aim of the town centre regeneration programme.
"The St Helens Interchange will make sure the town's long-term public transport needs are met, seamlessly providing a more efficient operational layout and vastly improving the experience of passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. Together with the new public realm, it will form a key gateway into the town centre, in a vibrant and welcoming high-quality public space."
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: "It's great to see the project to deliver a brand-new transport interchange for St Helens town centre continuing to move forward at pace.
"The investment from the Liverpool City Region is just one element of a much bigger plan to create the London-style, integrated transport network our region deserves.
"We're committed to putting the 'public' back into public transport by building a system that's greener, more affordable and more accessible, with local people at its heart.
"When the first franchised bus services roll out next year, they'll be serving this brand-new interchange, connecting communities and linking people with opportunities. It's an important step forward in delivering a transport network that's fit for the future."
Matt Whiteley, senior development manager at ECF, said the Interchange would create "an attractive, green and accessible arrival point". He added: "With clearer, safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists, de-cluttered streets and a self-contained space for buses to layover, these proposals will improve access to key destinations across the town centre, while creating capacity for St Helens to welcome larger and more sustainable buses in the future."
Incorporating eco-friendly design features, the interchange will use recycled, natural and local materials. The roof will incorporate solar panels, while each pod-like structure boasts a biodiverse living green roof.
St Helens' ambitious £100m first-phase regeneration plans aim to revitalise a 24-acre area in the town centre, featuring a new Market Hall surrounded by a mixed-use development. This includes a 120-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, 64 new homes, a 75,000 sq ft office space, and 11,000 sq ft of contemporary retail space, complemented by expansive public areas.
