St Helens borough set for landmark £148m investment to improve transport, connectivity and growth
The borough is set to benefit from almost £148 million of investment over the next five years in the largest coordinated transport investment package secured in recent decades.
Article date: 11 November 2026
The council's Cabinet will be asked to approve the Transport for City Regions Programme 2027-2032 package when they meet on 18 November.
If approved, the programme will bring £147.7 million of investment into the borough between 2027 and 2032, alongside additional Liverpool City Region (LCR) investment in rail, bus, active travel and customer experience initiatives.
Councillor Gary Edgerton, Cabinet Member for Business, Highways & Transport, said: "This investment is not simply about roads. It's about supporting regeneration, housing growth, economic development, access to employment, education, healthcare and local services - helping create a stronger and more connected borough. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform connectivity, infrastructure, and accessibility across our borough."
The programme includes four major strategic schemes which have already been prioritised through the LCR's evidence-led assessment process.
- Connected Places, St Helens Town Centre (£36.8m)
- Sutton Oak Link (£24m)
- Better Streets, Healthy Places (£22.5m)
- Jubits Lane/Chester Lane Corridor Improvement (£12m)
Together these represent more than £95 million of transformational investment in connectivity, place-making, active travel and regeneration. Further schemes would still need the approval of Cabinet.
The programme would help support the continued regeneration of St Helens Town Centre, improve connectivity between communities, unlock development and investment opportunities, improve access to employment and services, reduce inequalities, encourage healthier and more sustainable travel, and create safer, more attractive and accessible places.
In addition to the major schemes, the borough would also receive £40.54m for highway maintenance - allowing continued investment in roads, bridges, drainage, street lighting, and other essential highway assets - as well as £2.98m specifically for road safety improvements.
Residents would also benefit from a range of wider city-region investments, including Carr Mill Station, and Access for All improvements at Earlestown and Garswood.
Cllr Edgerton added: "This investment will deliver lasting benefits for our communities, support regeneration and economic growth, improve connectivity, maintain our highway network and create safer, healthier and more accessible places across the borough.
"It will also provide long-term certainty and support the resilience of our road network, while ensuring we have the arrangements in place to deliver these projects successfully for our residents and businesses."
The funding will be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday 18 November at 4pm. You can find out more about the funding and watch the meeting online here: https://sthelens.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=193&MId=15799&Ver=4