THE partnership behind the multi-million pound transformation of the derelict Parkside Colliery site in Newton-le-Willows says it has struck a "ground-breaking" deal to maximise the investment’s impact on local communities.
Parkside Regeneration LLP, the joint venture between developer Langtree and St Helens Council, has appointed St Helens Chamber to deliver a youth and business engagement programme across the construction lifetime of the Parkside project.
The development in Newton-le-Willows - which has proved controversial and was given finals approval following a public inquiry - will see the ex-pit site and surrounding redeveloped.
The site will become an employment park for logistics firms and manufacturers.
It is also being lined up to be one of the region's freeports. The Government says these “special economic zones with different rules to make it easier and cheaper to do business” would come with simpler planning, cheaper customs – with favourable tariffs, VAT or duties – and lower taxes, with “tax breaks to encourage construction, private investment and job creation”.
What the youth and business deal involves
This is expected to include ‘meet the buyer’ events, local apprenticeships, training opportunities, school visits and a range of low carbon initiatives.
Contracts have been exchanged with St Helens Chamber to deliver a programme of activity each year that includes:
- 21 apprenticeships
- 20 traineeships
- 200 engagements with school children
- 20 engagements with local SMEs
- 20 low carbon activities supported
St Helens Chamber will work with local stakeholders and its network to drive awareness of and participation in the Parkside programme, which is set to last the seven years of the scheme’s development and construction timescale.
What they are saying about the plans
Tracy Mawson, the chamber’s chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to be working closely with Parkside Regeneration to ensure social value and inclusive growth flows through to benefit local residents of all ages.
"Our first activity will be to engage the project’s professional teams in our schools programme, enabling tangible insights into career choices and inspiring local young people.
Tracy Mawson, the chamber’s chief executive
“The Parkside board is determined that we clearly address the needs of local communities and ensure the outcomes from the development are felt as widely as possible.”
Lisa Harris, St Helens Borough Council executive director for place, said: "The aim of this appointment is to ensure the development delivers true social value for the borough, to provide quality jobs and opportunities for our residents and businesses.
"St Helens Chamber are a key partner who have an excellent track record of supporting and pairing up businesses with job seekers and will help drive the focus on providing opportunities for local residents and businesses, to ensure we spread the benefits of Parkside across the borough.”
Youth build programme
The Parkside Joint Venture is also hoping to work with one of the company’s shareholders, PGIM Real Estate, to explore the possibility of bringing the YouthBuild programme to St Helens.
The scheme, which developers say is acknowledged as one of the world’s most advanced youth participation initiatives, helps engage and prepare young people for the world of work through education, skills training, career counselling and leadership development.
“I started my career at Parkside as a 16-year-old and enjoyed a high-quality apprenticeship as a mining surveyor, but the reality is that at that time the job market was largely a choice between the coal industry and the glass industry,” explains John Downes, chairman of Parkside Regeneration and group chief executive of Langtree.
John Downes
“Parkside’s ultimate occupiers will be providing a wide range of jobs in areas such as advance manufacturing, logistics, technology, sales, marketing, estates management and process engineering and in developing Parkside we want to ensure that today’s 16-year-olds get the best possible advice to help them build successful careers.
"PGIM’s YouthBuild programme, complementing the Chamber’s own work, will hopefully provide local young people with a range of choices.”
'Work is well underway'
Parkside Regeneration last month confirmed that a large multi-disciplinary team of engineers, architects, planners and landscape architects have begun work on the detailed plans for the development’s first units.
“It’s all systems go, and it’s nice to now be able to extend that to our social value programme, too,” added Mr Downes.
An artist's image of the site
In addition St Helens Council has now begun constructing the £38m [LH2] Parkside Link Road, which will connect the site to Junction 22 of the M6 motorway.
The road is scheduled to be completed before the first units are available for occupation.
The delivery of this important infrastructure has been supported by a £24m grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
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