Cabinet to review documents aimed to protect residents and key heritage assets
Councillors are set to decide on a range of new planning guidance documents that would help secure better planning outcomes in relation to proposals for Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs) and provide better support to historic buildings across St Helens Borough.
Article date: 15 January 2026
At its meeting next week, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet will be asked to approve a series of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) that will provide support to aid its continued positive delivery of the St Helens Local Plan.
This includes a new SPD that will set out the council's approach to improving the management of HMOs and their development and provision throughout the borough. HMOs are a necessary part of the housing mix in the borough as they provide small, affordable and flexible accommodation for a wide variety of people including single people, students, low salaried workers, seasonal workers and those on short term contracts. The SPD will be used as part of the decision making on planning applications for these properties and will help improve the standards of the accommodation that is provided and reduce potential detrimental impacts on neighbours.
Meanwhile key heritage sites will gain extra protection through the Locally Listed Heritage Assets SPD which sets out the criteria for identifying buildings and structures of special local architectural and historical interest, the process for adding these buildings/structures to a 'local heritage list' and to offer them a level of protection against undesirable alterations and/or irreplaceable loss.
There is also the Local Economy and Social Value SPD, which sets out the council's approach to encouraging economic growth and securing additional outcomes (known as social value) for local residents, communities and businesses.
Finally, the Affordable Housing SPD sets out the council's updated and strengthened expectations in relation to affordable housing provision on development sites, to make sure that prospective developers are aware of the requirements that need to be met when submitting a planning application for residential development.
Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "These new or updated Supplementary Planning Documents are a really vital tool to help us shape how our borough develops positively and sets out our strengthened standards to support developers make suitable plans that meet our expectations, provide opportunities and benefits for our communities, protect our residents from inappropriate development and help preserve our important heritage."
The report will be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday, 21st January. You can read the report and watch the meeting online here: Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 21st January, 2026, 4.00 pm St Helens Borough Council