The UK’s St Helens Borough Council has appointed construction company HH Smith & Sons to execute the restoration works at the Earlestown Town Hall, a 125-year-old landmark in Merseyside.
Smith & Sons will carry out a series of internal enabling works at the Grade II-listed town centre as part of a regeneration programme led by the council and the English Cities Fund (ECF).
ECF is a collaboration between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse.
The project aims to breathe new life into the market town, transforming the Town Hall into a hub for community, office, and leisure activities.
The restoration works will be carried out with a £20m ($24.8m) Levelling Up Fund from the government, as well as an £8m investment from the council.
This project is set to commence on receipt of 'Listed Building Consents'.
The restoration works include a complete removal of the Town Hall’s outdated mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems and asbestos.
HH Smith & Sons will work with local antique experts to preserve the building's original features.
Full refurbishment is anticipated to start in early 2025, with HH Smith & Sons overseeing an internal renovation designed by heritage architecture specialist Butress.
The renovated Town Hall will offer community spaces, a performance hall, 'flexible' workspaces, a café, a courtyard garden, public toilets, and a changing places facility.
The main hall will be restored as a venue for performances and events.
Throughout the project, HH Smith & Sons will engage a local supply chain, workforce, and merchants, including St Helens-based specialist stonemason Stone Central.
St Helens Borough Council Inclusive Growth and Regeneration cabinet member and councillor Richard McCauley said: "HH Smith & Sons bring invaluable experience and expertise to the restoration of this much-loved historic building, ensuring it retains its original charm, while being modernised for viable and sustainable use long into the future.
“This announcement, which complements the council's £1m investment in 2023 when external fabric repairs were successfully undertaken, represents yet another major milestone in Earlestown's regeneration programme, and we're excited to continue collaborating to create a facility that truly serves the needs of the local community for future generations.”
