THE future of St Helens town centre has been boosted by a number of major investments over recent months.

There will be new luxury apartments in the former Tyrers building on Bridge Street as well as in Claughton House, tying in with planners' ambitions for more town centre accommodation.

Dining opportunities in town will be boosted with the addition of Phoenix vegan restaurant - set to open before Christmas - opposite the Theatre Royal. There will also be a Kaspa's Dessert Parlour on Bridge Street, and a branch of Mexican restaurant Chiquitos on the West Point site.

Other new businesses include children's clothing store OD's Junior and a bowling alley and entertainment complex, also at West Point.

Chris O'Dea, who is transforming three former terraced houses at the junction of Cotham Street and Claughton Street into OD's Junior, says he hopes it become one of the leading stores for children's fashion wear in the UK.

Chris, who started off with menswear store OD's in Cotham Street in the early '90s, said he had renewed optimism about the future of the town centre following the creation of a new economy board for St Helens.

He said: "Kids wear has been the fastest growing part of our business and social media has a massive part to play in that.

"We also hope it will draw more shoppers into the town - from right across the region - as they will be driven here by the quality of the products."

It is hoped the store will open in autumn. Also to open later this year is Tex-Mex Chiquitos which will breathe further life into the West Point site.

A Chiquitos spokesman said the restaurant is "likely to open in the autumn or winter of this year”.

Developer Luxor Group, which bought the former Tyrers store made a further purchase to continue its investment plans in the town, acquiring Claughton House, on the corner of Claughton Street and Barrow Street, with plans to convert it into studios and apartments.

The upper floors of the 16,000 sq ft building, which has been empty office space, will become 18 residential units comprising of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and will be known as Luxor House.

A selection of the proposed apartments on the top floor will have outside seating areas.

The purchase follows Luxor’s acquisition of the former Tyrers in December 2016, which the group says signifies its commitment to St Helens town centre and takes its town centre portfolio to 38 units.

Managing director Paul Nicholson said: “We are excited to start this project, make our vision a reality and bring another unloved derelict building back to economic use.

“Claughton House is well located in the town centre with quality businesses located nearby, including estate agents, banks, accountants and firms of solicitors.

“We believe there is an opportunity to introduce new, high quality housing and with our proposed vision this area of the town will become the ‘Professional Quarter’.”

He added: “There are exciting plans for St Helens being proposed by other local entrepreneurs which is encouraging; the town centre could be a totally different place in a very short period.”