Market Street public realm improvements set to begin in Earlestown

Article date: 17 August 2026

Starting on Friday 28 August, works on Market Street will deliver improved pavement surfaces and high-quality street finishes alongside upgraded street furniture, signage, lighting and soft landscaping. Improved vehicular access control measures will also be installed to support traffic management and public safety.

To help minimise disruption, works will be undertaken to ensure that pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the construction period, and access to properties and businesses will be maintained wherever possible.

The beginning of the works will coincide with the partial reopening of the Market Square following extensive renovations. This milestone will see the Friday Retail Market and Saturday Flea Market partially relocate to their historic home.

The works are being delivered by the Eric Wright Group, the main contractor appointed by ECF (a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse) on behalf of St Helens Borough Council..

Sam Wilson, project manager at ECF, said: "In the last two months, the contractor has completed the foundations and steel frame for the new Market Canopy, as well as flood storage  features under the Market Square, and the paving  of the Market Square is now well underway. Elsewhere, deep drainage works on Oxford Street are now complete, with rain garden drainage being installed. Works on Queens Street are ongoing."

Councillor Jack Benyon, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Property and Planning at St Helens Borough Council said: "It is exciting to see works in Earlestown town centre continue to move at pace; these high quality public realm improvements will help the market and local businesses to thrive by creating a safe, more attractive, welcoming and accessible town centre that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

"You can't put a price on human lives and ensuring public safety in our town centres is of the utmost importance to us. Improved access control measures, in compliance with the latest national standards for hostile vehicle mitigation, will help to ensure that we are meeting the levels required to protect residents and visitors. Particular attention has been afforded to the integration of such measures within the high quality public realm designs to ensure that we still achieve welcoming public spaces.

"While we recognise that these latest works inevitably cause some disruption, Earlestown town centre remains very much open for business and I would encourage residents and visitors to continue to support our local traders and businesses throughout the construction period of our regeneration programme.

"We are grateful for people's patience and understanding to date and thank them for supporting our vision as we work to return Earlestown to its rightful place as a thriving market town."

The Earlestown Regeneration Programme will see Earlestown's historic Market Square enhanced into a high-quality, flexible public space designed to support the town for generations to come. A new permanent canopy, inspired by the nine arches of the Sankey Viaduct, will provide sheltered trading areas while also creating a venue that can host a wide variety of public events year-round. The wider town centre is undergoing major public realm and highway improvements.

Elsewhere as part of the project, HH Smith & Sons continue works at the Grade II listed Earlestown Town Hall, as the main contractor for the extension and complete internal refurbishment of the much-loved historic landmark site.

The projects are part of a 20-year regeneration plan being delivered by ECF in partnership with St Helens Borough Council, creating successful and sustainable town centres in Earlestown and St Helens backed by £20m from the Government's Levelling Up Fund and £8m match funding from the council.