Historic milestone as low-carbon steel arrives for new St Helens Transport Interchange

Article date: 16 February 2026

Construction will begin almost immediately, with the material, transported by ship and road from Italy, deployed across multiple structural elements of the new development. These include the main Transport Interchange building along with architectural concourse canopies to provide weather protection for passengers.

Also known as carbon neutral or green steel, the product is a metal alloy composed of iron and carbon, with a carbon content typically 60-75% lower than traditional blast furnace steel. It was sourced from Italy as a leading European producer of sustainable steel. The reduced carbon is a result of how it is manufactured and the source material, which involves electric arc furnace technology turning recycled scrap metal into construction-grade material with significantly lower emissions than traditional blast furnace methods. Some 90% of the build, primarily within the concourse area, will feature low carbon steel.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at St Helens Borough Council said: "This is a moment we have eagerly anticipated, and people will literally now start to see the future take shape on site. The choice of low-carbon steel offers many environmental and practical advantages, including increased corrosion resistance for longevity, and a lower price point compared to traditional steel options. It means a win-win-win for St Helens and further demonstrates the Council's commitment to our Climate Action Plan."

Matt Whiteley, Senior Development Manager at ECF, added: "Low-carbon steel is part of our tangible commitment to environmental responsibility that runs through everything we are doing, with the sustainable material set to form the backbone of the new Transport Interchange. Globally, about 1.5 billion tonnes of steel is produced annually.  There is a significant carbon saving, even with the cross border transportation from Italy taken into account. The shift toward low-carbon alternatives in major infrastructure projects like the St Helens Transport Interchange represents a crucial step in reducing the built environment's carbon footprint."

VINCI Building, the main contractor, is carrying out the works on behalf of St Helens Borough Council and ECF - a partnership between Homes England, L&G, and Muse.

Martin Horton, Senior Project Manager at VINCI Building, said: "Low carbon steel has the tensile strength and malleability we need for modern construction applications and performs equally well in structural applications while reducing environmental impact in a major way. The material is well-suited to fabrication and shaping, allowing us to create the complex structural forms required for state-of-the-art transport architecture. It also has exceptional performance in cold temperatures - remaining ductile and tough, which makes it ideal for the UK climate."

VINCI has appointed a Liverpool City Region based contractor, Webber NW Ltd., to lead on the steel framework construction and it has a St Helens specialist firm,  N.L. Williams Group based at Westside Industrial Estate, on its team. N.L Williams is the latest local firm to contribute to, and benefit from, delivery of the town centre regeneration programme, as part of commitments made in the St Helens Inclusive Growth Strategy.

Once complete, the St Helens Transport Interchange will completely transform travel for bus passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians - creating a safe, accessible, and welcoming gateway to the town centre.

Key features include 11 bus stands (up from nine) to support the region's bus franchising plans, enclosed concourse real-time travel information for both buses and trains, step-free access throughout, and automatic doors at every stand. The new St Helens Transport Interchange will also feature a Travel Centre, accessible toilets including a Changing Places facility, and secure covered cycle storage with improved wayfinding.

The surrounding public realm will also be enhanced to improve connections between the Transport Interchange, St Helens Central Rail Station, and key landmarks such as the Gamble Building, Theatre Royal, and the forthcoming Hampton by Hilton hotel. A new civic square, upgraded lighting, and high-quality landscaping will help create a vibrant, people-friendly public space.

The £35 million project is being delivered through £32 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), alongside £3.25 million from the Government's Towns Fund and contributions from St Helens Borough Council.