AS times and shopping habits change, it's inevitable that town centres shift with them and try to adapt to the circumstances which they're in.
While traditional town centres used to be packed full of residents doing clothing and grocery shopping, habits have changed and people often prefer to shop online or at retail parks for convenience.
Neighbouring cities are also a draw for younger people who choose to live or commute there, and financial crises like the pandemic and cost of living crisis have only accentuated problems for businesses.
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Due to these factors, St Helens, like many other industrial towns, has suffered from declining foot traffic in the town centre in recent years.
This has meant that some St Helens businesses have been lost forever, but others have managed to adapt and stand the test of time.
And while there have been difficulties, there have been developments too as business owners have found prime locations in the town, or have cottoned on to fashionable trends and tried to bring a similar thing here.
Aware of declining footfall figures and issues facing businesses, St Helens Council is trying to address this with its "once in a lifetime" regeneration plans.
Aiming to bring more people into the town centre, the council plan to build new office, retail and residential space, as well as a new market hall, a new and improved bus station and a hotel.
As the first phase of the regeneration plans will begin with the demolition of the Harshaw Centre, changes have already begun as many businesses have taken up space in Church Square shopping centre.
With all of this in mind, here are ten photos in and around St Helens town centre that show the changes, losses, and developments of the last 10 years or so.
St Helens then and now:
Tyrers
A figure of the town centre for decades, the department store and top floor cafe at Tyrers became known as a St Helens institution.
After closing for good in 2016, it has since been used as apartments upstairs and commercial units below.
The ground floor was most recently used as a hub for the local creative arts company, MD Creatives.
Marks and Spencer
A huge loss for the high street, Marks and Spencers left its Church Street home back in 2019 after decades spent serving town centre customers.
In a sign of the times, the retailer moved across to Ravenhead Retail Park while the Church Street premises has remained empty.
Wardleworths
Coming as another blow for the town centre, Wardleworths book shop closed in 2019 after nearly 40 years in operation.
With Westfield Street attracting more businesses suited to the night-time economy in recent years, it has since been developed into a fish and chip shop.
The closure of Wardleworths left the town centre without a single bookshop, until the community-funded St Helens Book Stop opened on Bridge Street in 2021.
Chalon Way car park
One of the largest car parks in the town centre, the Chalon Way car park was demolished in early 2021.
A 'box park' attraction is planned at the location, to be called The Foundry.
With bars, eateries, and outdoor cinema screens planned around upcycled shipping containers, the project is still on course to be built despite construction delays.
Imperial Food and Drink Quarter
One of the more significant investments for the night-time economy in St Helens, Imperial Food and Drink Quarter stands at the location of a former public toilet on Brook Street.
The development is the brainchild of businessman Ian Pitts, who owns multiple town centre businesses such as Imperial nightclub, Cork and Dough pizza restaurant and the Citadel Theatre.
With indoor, outdoor, and balcony seating, the idea is to bring a city centre-style bar into the town centre and give people a reason to stay in St Helens.
Bridge Street
Back in 2012, Blockbuster was still the place to watch all the latest movies and TV series, and Netflix streaming was but a distant dream.
With Bridge Street becoming increasingly known as a hub of independent businesses, the Blockbuster premises was later taken over by Barbers No.1.
Bookies shop Coral is now St Helens' number one rated restaurant on Trip Advisor, Vigour, and while Rennies Arts and Craft shop has since shut down, that is currently under construction to become a new Chinese restaurant, named 'KungFu'.
Nando's
A staple of the town centre's eateries, Portuguese chicken restaurant Nando's opened on St Helens Linkway in 2013.
Prior to that, the premises next to Chicago Rock and Running Horses bar was left unused for large periods of time.
Cinema Bar
The former Plaza building on the corner of Duke Street became an iconic location in the 1960s as it hosted dozens of live music acts, including the Beatles.
The curved building has changed hands various times since then, and was known as the Orange House pub in the noughties.
The premises has since split into St Helens Pharmacy and the popular Cinema Bar - which was voted as 'Pub of the Year' by Star readers last year.
Totally Wicked Stadium
While just outside the town centre, one of the most signficant developments for St Helens folk over the decade or so was the construction of Langtree Park/ Totally Wicked Stadium on Peasley Cross Lane.
The construction of the 18,000 seater stadium followed more than a century of rugby league at Knowsley Road, and has seen Saints go on to make history in recent years.
Glass Futures
The construction of Glass Futures, next to the Totally Wicked Stadium, is a nod to the town's rich industrial and glassmaking history.
The exterior of the £54m building was completed earlier this year, and it will be home to government-backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising the glass and foundation industries.
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