Local supplier contracts awarded on St Helens town centre transformation
Three North West firms have been engaged by main contractor, VINCI Building, to carry out enabling works on the regeneration of St Helens town centre.
This will kick-start transformation plans following the closure of the 115,000 sq ft Hardshaw Shopping Centre leading to a new market hall flanked by a mixed-use area that includes a 120-bed globally-branded hotel, 64 new homes and 11,000 sq ft of retail space.
The scheme is being brought forward by St Helens Borough Council and ECF, a partnership formed of Homes England, Legal & General and Muse.
The project will create new public spaces and streets, better walking and cycling routes, areas for children to play and invite nature to flourish in extensive landscaped areas.
Ayesa, based on the Mere Grange Business Park in St Helens, has won the contract for the initial site investigation work. The firm has had an office in St Helens for 25 years via two companies it acquired – Byrne Looby and Terra Consult.
Its work will help determine the requirements for the building foundations. The process involves drilling boreholes 30 metres deep into the ground, which provides important information about the geology of the site.
A&B Engineering, a mechanical and electrical contractor based at Old Swan in Liverpool, has also joined the team to provide early specialist contractor involvement.
Its appointment will bring knowledge and expertise in the design and installation of complex mechanical and engineering systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, power supply, and water supply.
The third contract has gone to HA Civils, a national contractor that has a long standing operational base in St Helens, which will help deliver the temporary bus hub on Chalon Way West.
Cllr Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth and Regeneration at St Helens Borough Council, said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime transformational project that will give St Helens town centre a vibrant, attractive and sustainable future.
“But the future starts now and we are determined to make sure the programme of work creates social value outcomes through jobs, training and skills opportunities in accordance with our Inclusive Growth Strategy.”
On behalf of ECF, Muse senior project manager Chris Bishop, said: “From the outset of this landmark scheme the partners have all shared a commitment to see local firms and the wider community benefit.
“We ensured this was a contractual obligation when procuring the main contractor Vinci to deliver phase one of development.”
Enabling works and the process of stripping out the interior of the Hardshaw Centre is now under way, disconnecting all the utilities and installing hoarding to ensure the site remains safe and secure. The full scale demolition of the main structure will then follow.
