£200m St Helens brownfield redevelopment plans approved

Plans to deliver a new, residential-led development at Cowley Hill Works have been approved by St Helens Council’s planning committee.

The Cowley Hill Works is the largest brownfield allocation within the emerging St Helens Borough Council local development plan.

The approved application will see the delivery of up to up to 1,100 new homes, a hotel and commercial space off College Street, north of the town centre.

The development will sit on 104 acres of the former Cowley Hill Works, operated by NSG Group, adjacent to the firm’s glass coating facility which will continue to operate.

The proposals have been brought forward by BXB Cowley Hill, a joint venture between Liverpool-based developer Promenade Estates and brownfield land specialist BXB.

Gary Goodman, director at BXB Cowley Hill, said: “We are very pleased to have secured planning consent to regenerate one of the largest brownfield sites within Merseyside. This is a strategically important site for St Helens in terms of the town’s ambitions for the future and meeting local housing needs.

“Our plans will bring more than 100 acres of brownfield land close to the town centre back into productive use, delivering up to 1,100 new homes for St Helens.”

He added: “We would like to thank St Helens Council for their professionalism during the pandemic and the members of the public and local community groups who contributed to our three public consultations for helping to shape our plans. We are now engaged in a process of working with housebuilders to select the correct partner for this site.”

Daniel Hynd, managing director of Promenade Estates, welcomed the approval: “Returning brownfield land to productive use is the most sustainable form of development and I’m pleased that we can make such a major contribution to St Helens’ housing and economic development priorities.

“Our focus now will turn to delivery and working with other partners to bring life and vitality back to the site.”

The redevelopment of the site is expected to bring several significant economic benefits to St Helens, including an estimated capital expenditure of £200m.

A further £15m is expected to be spent on goods and services each year by the new residents, while £1.5m is expected to be generated annually from council tax receipts once all the homes are occupied.

The development is expected to take up to 12 years to complete, creating approximately 360 full time equivalent jobs each year during the construction phase.

Cowley Hill Works has been recognised by St Helens Council as suitable for both residential and commercial development and is the largest allocation within St Helens’ emerging local plan. The plan, which was approved by councillors last year, has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.

BXB Cowley Hill was advised by Brock Carmichael, Nexus planning, Mason Owen, CBRE, Curtins and Lexington.