6 planning applications submitted, approved or called in during 2020

• Haydock Point

PLANS to build a “monstrous” logistics and manufacturing development in green belt land in Haydock were rejected by St Helens Council.

The proposals for the Haydock Point site, which is to the North East of Junction 23 of the M6 Motorway, will ultimately be decided by the Secretary of State as part of public inquiry scheduled for February 2021.

But on Tuesday, St Helens Borough Council’s planning committee determined on the application to set out the authority’s stance ahead of the inquiry.

See the full report here.

• Lancots Lane

MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has completed the purchase of the former industrial site on Lancots Lane in Sutton, with leading regeneration group, Torus.

The land, which was previously used by a skip hire business, will create 63 brand new homes in the area, comprising of a mix of modern one and two-bedroom apartments along with two, three, and four-bedroom homes.

The Star reported when planning permission was granted for the project in the summer.

See more here.

• Parkside

A CONTROVERSIAL development on the site of the former Parkside Colliery was called in by the Secretary of State in the spring.

Outline planning permission had been granted last year for the first phase of the regeneration of the Parkside site last December, which would see it transformed into a major logistics hub.

The former colliery is viewed as a major employment site for St Helens and the Liverpool City Region, so much so the combined authority approved £24 million to part-fund the Parkside Link Road project in November, which is seen as a key element to unlocking the potential of the site.

The £31.5 million scheme, which is also in the green belt, will connect the A49 Winwick Road directly with the M6 at Junction 22 and will act as a by-pass to divert traffic away from Newton-le-Willows, Winwick and Hermitage Green.

The public inquiry into the plans is set to take place next week from Tuesday (January 5).

See more here.

• Eccleston Park 'village'

THE plans to create a 'new village' with the creation of around 1,000 homes at Eccleston Park have been submitted by a developer.

Mulbury Homes are behind the project which aims to see the creation of a new neighbourhood in the heart of Eccleston Park with new homes, accommodation for the over 55s, a local shop, a day care nursery, health benefits and improvements to the road infrastructure.

The planning application is for the construction of 186 homes to the east of the site adjoining Rainhill Road in partnership with a housing developer, as well as outline approval for a 646 homes and a further 168 units of retirement homes (77 in number) and housing accommodation at the Portico Lane access, a convenience store, a nursery and healthcare provision.

The project has been met with opposition, with ward councillors expressing strong objections to the proposed loss of green belt land for the development.

See more here.

• Ex-Woolworths premises

A PLANNING application for permission to create 18 flats at the former Woolworths building in St Helens town centre and create commercial units has been submitted.

Proposals seek permission for the change of use of the vacant building on Church Street, with four ground floor commercial units.

The building has lay empty for much of the past 12 years, since Woolies' closure in December 2008, having been based at the premises since 1960.

Proposals have been sent to the council after chartered surveyor Cosey Homes took over the former Woolies store.

See the full story here.

• Home Bargains warehouse

THE plans for a Home Bargains warehouse on green belt land in Bold as part of the Omega development were called in by the Secretary of State after the council voted in favour of them.

In October, St Helens Council's planning committee had granted permission to build a massive warehouse on the land by a majority vote.

Councillors were divided over the plans, which attracted more than 100 objection letters.

The development also falls within the Bold Forest Area Action Plan boundary and will result in a permanent loss of woodland and trees totalling an area of 56,339 m2.

See more here.