The next significant step for the ambitious plan by St Helens Borough Council and The English Cities Fund (ECF) to transform 24 acres of St Helens town centre has seen VINCI Building selected as the main contractor to deliver the first phase of development.
The project will revitalise the heart of the town centre and represents the largest ever single investment in St Helens. The scheme already has hybrid approval and will progress to a start on site in the first quarter of 2024, subject to a more detailed Reserved Matters planning application that is being submitted in the Autumn.
The scope of works for VINCI Building is expected to cover the majority of the £90.69m secured by St Helens Borough Council and ECF for the town centre regeneration, with the specifics of the contract to be agreed following Reserved Matters consent.
VINCI Building will lead the construction of a stunning new market hall flanked by a mixed-use area set around a 120-bedroom globally branded hotel, 64 stunning new homes and 11,000 sq ft modern retail space, along with high quality sustainable public spaces. The scope of initial works will also see replacement of the existing bus station with a new modern multi-modal interchange and active travel improvements across the wider town centre.
VINCI Building will be working to bespoke sustainability strategies for each building that have been developed by the Council and ECF and are anchored on five key themes: Net Zero Carbon; Enhancing Biodiversity; Social Value; Circular Economy; and Health/Wellbeing.
In particular, the redevelopment will deliver significant social value in direct support of the Council’s recently adopted Inclusive Growth Strategy. Phase one as a whole is expected to have a strong impact in terms of employment and Gross Value Added (GVA) — some 485 new jobs across the development once it is fully occupied, generating £23.2m GVA each year.
In terms of the construction phase, VINCI Building will ensure the use of companies within the borough and buying locally as part of the supply chain, along with creating significant skills, training, and employment opportunities for local people. To achieve this, VINCI Building will partner with the Council and ECF to create a social inclusion programme. It will see the contractor strive to deliver as much positive impact in the community as possible, through local initiatives that include the Ways to Work scheme and connecting with St Helens College, and local schools, to provide employment and training opportunities, while engaging and supporting local Voluntary Community Social Enterprise projects.
VINCI Building will also use its experience of logistics management and phasing of works to minimise the impact on town centre businesses and visitors during the construction phase.
Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone and to have taken yet another step closer to work starting on site. VINCI Building have been given the responsibility of delivering a high-quality and highly sustainable first phase development that, during the build programme, will benefit the people of St Helens through a wide range of social value measures.
“Everyone with St Helens’ best interests at heart shares in the belief we need to restore the town centre to its former glory. That means bringing back a sense of our true heritage but also future proofing our buildings, public areas, and transport so that they are fit for purpose. A great deal of time, energy and thought has gone into listening to what our community wants — a high-quality scheme that will be uniquely St Helens. VINCI Building has the experience and capability to help us deliver our vision of a town centre that is child and family-friendly, safe, and sustainable, with thriving places for local businesses, shoppers, visitors, and residents.”
Max Bentham, Development Director at ECF, commented: “VINCI Building has the experience and capability to deliver against our goal of a highly sustainable, large-scale transformation of the town. This a hugely ambitious and multi-faceted regeneration project that will leave a lasting positive legacy.
“As a partnership, we’re committed to delivering places that are totally authentic to their location, that respect heritage and aspirations for the future, while at the same time providing opportunities for all to thrive and prosper. We’re looking forward to continuing our collective momentum and starting the first phase early in 2024.”
John Roberts, Managing Director of VINCI Building said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for VINCI Building to showcase our technical expertise in town centre regeneration. This project allows us to increase our social value commitments and add value within the borough and surrounding Liverpool City Region. We look forward to working with The English Cities Fund and St Helens Borough Council and bringing this project to site.”
VINCI Building was selected through a procurement process governed by the North West Construction Hub.
Header image from left to right: Lisa Harris, Executive Director of Place Services, St Helens Borough Council, Gary Hughes, Regional Director at VINCI Building, Phil Mayall, Regional Director at The English Cities Fund, Robert Gatensbury, Programme Lead at St Helens Borough Council, Kath O’Dwyer, Chief Executive at St Helens Borough Council, Stuart Rogers, Development Director at The English Cities Fund, Stuart Brown, Construction Director at VINCI Building, Cllr David Baines, Leader at St Helens Borough Council, Cllr Richard McCauley from St Helens Borough Council and Martin Horton, Senior Project Manager at VINCI Building.
