Town centre hotel a 'key component' of regeneration plans in St Helens

With Phase One of St Helens Council's regeneration plans set to start with the demolition of the Hardshaw Centre at the end of the year, providing planning permission is granted, construction will then begin to bring a new market hall, hotel, offices, and retail and residential space into the town centre.

While almost all residents are in agreement that the town centre is in need of regeneration, one thing that is frequently questioned is the decision to bulldoze retail space for another hotel, with the Mercure located just behind the World of Glass on St Helens Linkway.

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Hotel and mixed use development to replace the Hardshaw Centre

A new market hall and original street pattern will also follow the closure of the Hardshaw Centre (Image: St Helens Council)

As stated in St Helens Council's 'Masterplan Framework' for the town centre, the Hardshaw Centre will be demolished for a new "mixed-use development".

Reintroducing the original street pattern that was present prior to the Hardshaw Centre's construction, the shopping centre will be partly replaced by a new hotel that faces a "new and improved" bus station on Bickerstaffe Street.

New townhouses will also be constructed that face onto Hall Street, as well as new retail and leisure units and a food market hall facing Church Square.

New hotel a 'key component' in regeneration plans

The new hotel will face the nus station on Bickerstaffe Street (Image: St Helens Council)

Although not all residents are convinced with the plans to build a new hotel in the town centre, the council said that it is a "key component" of its regeneration plans.

An additional hotel will help to create transformative change, the council said, as it can attract corporate visitors and "support the town's highly successful sport, leisure and visitor attractions".

The council also said that there was a "great deal of interest" from the hotel sector when proposing the plans, and that stakeholders have highlighted "a need for high-quality accommodation for corporate visitors".

Statement from the English Cities Fund and St Helens Council

A new hotel has had 'great interest', the council say (Image: St Helens Council)

A spokesperson for English Cities Fund and St Helens Council said: “The hotel is a key component of the new town centre offering and one of many investments that will bring about transformational change for the better. 

"Demand studies evidenced the need for an additional hotel in the town centre and when the concept was market tested there was a great deal of interest from the hotel sector and that very much remains the case.

"We have also heard directly from several stakeholders, including international businesses operating in St Helens, that there is a need for high quality accommodation for corporate visitors with a focus on including bespoke facilities for extended stays.

"The hotel will also directly support the town's highly successful sport, leisure and visitor attractions. 

“We will update on progress with securing a global hotel brand in due course. The hotel is planned to come forward at the same time as the wider Phase One town centre construction commencing next year.”