A Merseyside council may force through the purchase of town centre buildings in order to demolish them for their 'masterplan'
St Helens Borough Council announced their extensive plans to overhaul the town centre last year, and the upcoming phase will require the levelling of several buildings in the area.
At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday February 2, it was revealed that the council may use compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers to gain ownership of the land necessary to allow the developments.
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The major regeneration plans, previously described as 'once in a lifetime' will require the demolition of several buildings in the town centre in order to upgrade retail space, build new homes and upgrade on infrastructure.
Phase One includes bold ambitions to reduce the overall retail space and replace it with a new mixed-use development including a new market, a hotel, new cutting edge flexible commercial Grade A office space, a state-of-the-art new bus station and improved connectivity.
It also includes the creation of a new public realm and a new green park called ‘Discovery Park’ in the centre of the town all with an expected completion date of winter 2024.
Future phases of the 20-year master plan will span into the other parts of the town centre including St Marys and improve residential links to assets such as the World of Glass Museum as well as bringing in more greenspace into the town including a Discovery Park.
Wednesday's meeting confirmed that the council may use CPO powers to push through purchase of land if they cannot be acquired through negotiation.
One of the buildings standing in the middle of where the developments will take place is the popular Hardshaw Centre shopping centre, which the council recently announced plans to acquire.
