Coronavirus pandemic hasn't halted plans to regenerate St Helens

A landmark partnership – described by council chiefs as “game-changing” –between the local authority and The English Cities Fund (ECF) was announced in March, as the coronavirus crisis began to take hold of the UK.

Since then both sides have been working together on proposals for a 20-year deal that would see various sites in the borough redeveloped.

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And while the coronavirus pandemic may have thrown a curveball into these plans, St Helens Council leader David Baines said the work is still progressing.

“Every one of us will have noticed now how quickly our own priorities can change when living in crisis,” Cllr Baines said.

“Our families, our health, and our community quickly become our only concerns.

“As a council, we’re responding to this pandemic in the only way we can – by focusing on maintaining our essential services and protecting lives.

“However, while this is our main focus in this pandemic, we also know that we will come through it, and we need to continue to think about our recovery and our future.”

Phil Mayall, ECF regional director, said it has been working “tirelessly” to reach a development agreement since the partnership was announced.

And he said the ECF, which has delivered development worth £1.6 billion into five local authorities to date, is looking forward to revealing some “exciting plans”.

“What we’re currently experiencing is an unprecedented situation that is affecting all people and businesses across the length and breadth of the country,” Mr Mayall said.

“Our experience tells us that while it’s right to focus on the issue at hand, it’s also equally important to be ready for when the time comes to kickstart the country’s recovery, which will come from boroughs like St Helens, towns and cities – the engine rooms of our economy.

“Since our initial appointment to support St Helens Council on their regeneration aspirations, we’ve been working tirelessly, but virtually, continuing our discussions to reach a development agreement.

“Those conversations are still taking place, but we’re looking forward to reaching the next milestone, revealing some exciting plans to bring a new vibrancy and purpose to this thriving borough, and engaging with the community as we progress.”

St Helens Council leader David Baines (left) with Phil Mayall, regional director of The English Cities Fund

Linking into the partnership, work is also moving forward on developing proposals to secure up to £25 million from the government’s Towns Fund.

Last September, St Helens was named by the government as one of 100 places invited to come up with proposals to access the £3.6 billion fund, which is being developed by a ‘Town Deal Board’.

The board is made up of partners from across the public, private and voluntary sectors, and last week met – virtually – to discuss how each will contribute to the board strategically.

Cllr Baines said: “Over the last year, we’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes for St Helens borough and our town centre regeneration and just recently took two great strides forward, with announcements of our game-changing partnership with The English Cities Fund, which has a proven track record of transforming towns and cities; and a new Town Deal Board, set up to attract up to £25 million of investment to St Helens.

“Despite lockdown, our ambitious plans are progressing without significant delay.

“We are working as much as we can on bringing forward the regeneration that our borough and our residents deserve.”

Rhian Davitt-Jones, associate director at town planning and development experts CBRE, sits on the Town Deal Board.

She said the “transformational” ECF partnership – coupled with the money from the Towns fund, will be a “critical step” in the regeneration of St Helens town centre.

“In a post-Covid world there is an ever-increasing emphasis to be placed on securing the viability and vitality of town centres such as St Helens,” Ms Davitt-Jones said.

“The partnership and future towns funding investment will be a critical step for the regeneration of the high street – helping to rebuild and strengthen St Helens town centre as a place as well as bolster footfall and importantly support and help ensure small businesses are able to thrive.”

Previous plans unveiled in 2017 for the regeneration of St Helens town centre have been scrapped

Local property businessman John Tabern is the chairman of St Helens’ Town Deal Board and said it is more important than ever that all of the people charged with acting as “catalysts for change” in St Helens “redouble their efforts”.

He said that every member of the Town Deal Board has continued to work on this cause, despite the constraints of these “unprecedented times”.

Mr Tabern said: “For me it is an honour and privilege to serve the borough as chairman of this board and I am inspired by every online meeting I am involved with, as the enthusiasm, passion and ideas flow forward in ever increasing volume.

“St Helens’ residents can be assured there is no lack of determination amongst board members to seize the opportunities available and turn them into a reality for the benefit of all.

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“Every effort will be made to canvass as widely as possible to ensure all views are captured and distilled into something which as far as possible, will meet or exceed expectations.

“The board are also taking careful steps to ensure that its work complements, supports and integrates with the broader aims of the borough’s regeneration partnership with ECF.

“I believe the borough will come through these hard, difficult times and come out of the other side with renewed vigour and excitement for the future.”