A planning application has been submitted to St Helens Borough Council in the UK for a greener, accessible transport interchange in the town centre.
The St Helens Transport Interchange is funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the UK government’s Towns Fund.
It will feature improved facilities such as two fully enclosed concourses with sheltered waiting areas, a new travel centre, and accessible toilets, including a Changing Places facility.
The funding also includes enhancements to the public realm, with walking and cycling links to the town’s train station and the creation of a new civic square between the interchange and the Gamble Building.
UK-based company VINCI Building, in collaboration with St Helens Borough Council and development partner the English Cities Fund (ECF), is set to deliver this regeneration project.
This February, the council announced the start of demolition work in March for the interchange development.
A Reserved Matters planning application is the next planned stage. This follows a public consultation held at the end of 2024, where the proposals received overwhelming support.
The design includes street furniture, better lighting, improved CCTV, trees, and landscaping.
The interchange will connect and frame iconic buildings such as the Gamble Building, Theatre Royal, and the forthcoming Hampton by Hilton hotel.
The building’s sustainable design includes recycled materials, solar panels, and green living roofs to increase biodiversity and capture solar energy.
The new interchange will have 11 stands, an increase from the current nine, and will move all bus parking into the new facility.
Accessibility has been a key consideration in the design, with step-free access throughout, clear signage, digital and audio announcements, and adjustable lighting.
The interchange is part of a regeneration for St Helens’ town centre, with ECF, a partnership of Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse, driving the project forward with financial support from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via the City Region Transport Settlement fund of £710m ($217.8m).
The project is expected to be completed in 2026, aligning with the introduction of the first franchised bus services in St Helens. The franchised network, to be rolled out across the city region by the end of 2027, will offer greater local control over fares, timetables, and routes.
St Helens Borough Council leader and councillor Anthony Burns said: “These plans are one of the key parts of our vision for transforming St Helens town centre. Equipping St Helens Borough with a well-connected, integrated, and accessible public transport system is a key aim of the town centre regeneration programme.
“The St Helens Interchange will make sure the town’s long-term public transport needs are met, seamlessly providing a more efficient operational layout and vastly improving the experience of passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. Together with the new public realm, it will form a key gateway into the town centre, in a vibrant and welcoming high-quality public space.”
