Temporary road changes as St Helens town centre regeneration moves towards construction phase

Article date: 29 January 2026

The highway work, which will be undertaken by VINCI Building, involves the installation of a new drainage system to the new St Helens Transport Interchange facility. This key stage of the project will require a temporary closure of Hall Street to vehicular traffic between its junctions with Corporation Street and Bickerstaffe Street. Pedestrian access will not be affected.

The works will take place between 8:00am to 5:00pm and are scheduled to commence on Monday 9 February 2026, with an expected completion on Friday 24 April 2026. Clear diversion routes will be in place, and a traffic management plan has been carefully designed to keep disruption to a minimum.

A wider programme of phased highway works will be undertaken between February and July 2026 and, prior to the commencement of each phase, further correspondence will be issued to affected residents and businesses, providing detailed information on the planned works.

Access for service and delivery vehicles to local businesses will be maintained, as will routes for heritage buses linked to the North West Museum of Road Transport. Pedestrian access along the eastern side Hall Street will remain throughout these scheduled works.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at St Helens Borough Council, said: "We are working hard to minimise the disruption to local businesses and residents, and working with VINCI Building we have compressed this stage of the project to the shortest time possible. We understand that road closures and construction work can be challenging for everyone, and we're doing everything we can to make this process as smooth as possible."

"We ask people to bear with us - this is a once-in-a-generation project that has attracted significant investment and backing from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as well as central government. The scale of funding we've secured demonstrates the confidence that regional and national partners have in St Helens' future - one that will restore pride in our town centre and bring new jobs and opportunities for St Helens."

Alongside the drainage works, the steel frames of the new St Helens Transport Interchange buildings are set to be erected with the build programme rolling out in earnest soon afterwards.

The scheme secured planning consent in July and will provide a modern, accessible and sustainable gateway to the town centre. Key features include two fully enclosed, temperature-controlled concourses with spacious waiting areas, a new Travel Centre, and accessible toilets including a Changing Places facility.

The design will offer 11 bus stands (up from the previous nine), level boarding, automatic doors at each stand, real-time passenger information for both buses and trains, and secure cycle storage positioned next to new active travel links. The St Helens Transport interchange will prioritise sustainability with recycled and local materials, solar panels, green roofs and landscaped planters to boost biodiversity. It will also feature step-free access throughout, digital and audio signage, adjustable lighting and acoustic panels to create a more comfortable environment.

Improvements to the surrounding public realm will create better connections with St Helens Central Rail Station and iconic town landmarks. A new civic square, enhanced lighting, CCTV and high-quality street furniture will create a vibrant, safe and welcoming public space at the heart of the regeneration.

The works are being delivered by VINCI Building, the main contractor appointed by St Helens Borough Council and ECF - a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse.

The project is supported by £32 million in funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), alongside £3.25 million from the UK Government's Towns Fund and additional financial contributions from St Helens Borough Council.

Alongside the interchange, the wider phase one development plans include a new Market Hall, a 120-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel, 56 apartments, eight townhouses and over 4,000 sq ft of new modern retail space. These will all sit within extensive biodiversity-rich public spaces designed to support pollinators, native planting and climate resilience.

The town centre transformation is backed by a £69.2 million funding package from St Helens Borough Council, with further support from the UK Government and ECF. This includes two Town Deal grants totalling £10.49 million and £812,000 from the One Public Estate Brownfield Land Release Fund to enable sustainable residential development.