A "jewel in the crown" building will be brought back to its "former glory" thanks to new funding.
The Gamble Building has been a part of St Helens for around 127 years, but was closed in 2017 due to structural issues making the lower levels "unsafe". It has since remained closed with works ongoing to restore the historical landmark after the council committed to a five-phase improvement programme in 2019.
But St Helens Council has confirmed that more than £500,000 of capital funding has been approved to bring it back into full and sustainable use. Last year, works completed on external restorations including new windows, roof repairs and masonry repointing but the next phase will see internal works carried out.
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The appointment is being made from a national framework to provide value for money procurement for local authorities, the council confirmed. The design activity will shape how a repurposed Gamble Building may look, with an open and welcoming ground floor.
The new building could see a library and café on the upper ground floor, as well as youth facilities on the first floor and commercial letting space on the second floor, with a new accessible entrance to support town centre regeneration plans, among the possibilities.
To finance the internal works needed to help the Gamble Building become a thriving community hub in the heart of St Helens town centre once more, a bid has been submitted for Government Levelling Up Fund Round 2, a delayed outcome for which is now expected by February.
Welcoming the cabinet report, Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: "Rich in heritage, the Gamble Building is the jewel in the crown in St Helens town centre and it has certainly got its shine back following an extensive external refurbishment.
"The quality of work is clear for all to see and has been done to a very high standard, from the detail of the brickwork to the terracotta mouldings - it looks absolutely fantastic and I'm sure residents will agree.
"We achieved a lot in 2022 in the way of regeneration on the back of a global pandemic, and we're starting the new year as we mean to go on. This next stage will allow us to get the exciting designs in place and then we can crack on with internal works, which we know residents are right behind, so the Gamble Building can be reopened and return to its former glory."
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