Developer lets £6m enabling works contract at St Helens brownfield housing scheme
Liverpool-based developer, BXB (Cowley Hill), has let a £6m enabling works package to kick-start construction of the spine road which will unlock Merseyside’s largest brownfield housing site.
The move comes a fortnight after a £10m grant for active travel infrastructure was agreed between the developer, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and St Helens Borough Council for the road at the former Pilkington Glass Cowley Hill Works site.
Specialist remedial contractor, Warrington-based DB Remediation, has been awarded the contract and is set to begin work at the end of June, completing the job at the end of June 2026.
The company is already active on the site and undertook an engineering-led package of works that facilitated the sale of the first residential phase to Torus.
The developer, a joint venture between Liverpool companies BXB Land Solutions and Promenade Estates, says the appointment demonstrates its desire to bring the site forward in line with the council’s own aspirations for housing delivery.
Gary Goodman, BXB land director, said: “We are moving at pace and will keep our foot on the gas.
“Negotiations will shortly conclude with a main contractor for the actual road, but this early appointment enables us to offer housing developers certainty around plot availability and will give the combined authority and St Helens council a clearer sight of when housing units will be delivered.”
The Cowley Hill Works site was once one of the largest glass works in St Helens. The first phase of the site, for 200 homes, was sold to affordable homes provider Torus early last year.
Site investigation work is now under way in advance of the main enabling works commencing.
The masterplan for the site was devised by Liverpool-based architects, Brock Carmichael, with CPC appointed as project managers and Gardner & Theobold as cost consultants.
Solicitors Hill Dickinson advised on the contractual terms for the agreement with DB Remediation.
The western part of Cowley Hill Works has been retained by Pilkington and remains in operation.
