5 planning applications submitted or approved in April

Former Charcoal Grill

Plans seek to create a nine-bed HMO at the former Charcoal Grill on Claughton Street, St Helens.

The plans include for the conversion of the first and second floors, with new second floor window openings and a blocking of a window at ground floor.

The application states it is planned to "use the vacant previously blocked second floor".

The Charcoal Grill was of the town's most popular restaurants and closed its doors in 2018 after more than 50 years of trading.

See more here.

The former Charcoal Grill

Ex-Tyrers ground floor

Formal plans for a community hub at the ground floor of the former Tyrers building – including for the recreation of the venue's famous tea room in a 1920s style - have been drawn up.

Tyrers was a St Helens institution and its department store and top floor cafe were a key part of the town centre for decades.

The landmark building was left empty for several years before being purchased by developer the Luxor Group, which created 15 one and two-bedroom apartments upstairs and commercial units below.

A budget shop, named Tyrer's Express (which had no link to the former business) occupied the ground floor and and basement before closing.

After a spell lying empty, the ground floor – which formerly housed the fragrance counter of Tyrers – is to become the creative resource centre and a "1920s style cafe" for MD Creatives.

Founded by Miguel Doforo, the hub is an addition to the Barrow Street 'academy' launched to offer a creative educational, social and communal space for young and old in community.

See more here.

Former Tyrers

Wine bar

A town centre restaurant owner has submitted plans for a wine bar nearby.

The Dean on Barrow Street was launched in 2019 at the former Willowbrook Hospice shop by couple Eddie Dean and Victoria Zsigmond Dean.

And they recently launched new venue The Smokehouse By The Dean.

Plans have been in the pipeline for a third venue, a wine bar, called The Dean Scene, set to launch later in the year on the corner of Barrow Street, with Claughton Street.

A formal planning application has now been submitted to change the of use of a unit at 39 Barrow Street from use for financial and professional services to a drinking establishment.

See more here.

Plans were submitted

Railway Hotel

Plans to demolish the historic Railway Hotel building in Earlestown and create apartments in its place have been approved after amendments were made to reflect the historical character of the building.

The plans for the site of the Railway Hotel on Railway Street, near to Earlestown train station, were submitted to the council last autumn.

The proposed development was for 15 apartments, along with 10 parking spaces and associated landscaping.

Torus submitted the proposals to St Helens Council's planning department.

See more here.

Former Railway Hotel

Beechams Building

Proposals for the change of use of the ground floor foyer temporarily to a beauty salon at the Smithkline Beechams Building on Westfield Street, St Helens have been submitted by Luxor Group developers.

A design and access statement, drawn up by ADS Structural, says plans are for "the temporary change of use of the existing foyer area as a makeup and beauty facility".

It adds "a new full application will be submitted shortly to accommodate the operations within the main part of the building".

The Star reported in 2019 as St Helens College sold the Grade II listed, Beechams Clock Tower building to the private developer.

The Beechams factory and office building, built between 1884 and 1887, was famous for producing the well-known Beechams pills.

It remains one of St Helens' most iconic buildings.

See more here.

Beechams Building