Rebuilding with enhanced safety and inclusivity in mind

Rebuilding with enhanced safety and inclusivity in mind

St Helens Borough Council and English Cities Fund Transform Town Centers

St Helens Borough Council, in partnership with the English Cities Fund (ECF), is embarking on a significant regeneration project to revitalize the town centers of St Helens and neighboring Earlestown. The project, aimed at creating safe, inclusive spaces, focuses on enhancing transport accessibility, improving public spaces, and fostering inclusive community engagement.

The work to deliver these changes is set to begin this summer, with parts of the town center that are no longer fit for purpose due for deconstruction. The key principles guiding this project are:

1. Creating accessible, safe, and user-friendly transport and public environments that invite diverse community use

The regeneration plans include the development of a new St Helens Transport Interchange, featuring improved facilities for bus passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. This "green gateway" to the town center emphasizes inclusivity and safety with accessible toilets, level boarding, automatic doors, and real-time travel information.

1. Inclusive, extensive public consultation ensuring broad community input into planning

The partnership with ECF reflects a collaborative approach, pooling expertise and funding to support sustainable, long-term growth. The project's success is underpinned by extensive community consultation, reaching tens of thousands of stakeholders. Comprehensive public consultation was a key part of the Newton-le-Willows regeneration plan, ensuring the project responds to local needs and priorities.

1. Partnership working for sustainable economic and social revitalization of town centers

The regeneration project is a testament to collaboration, with ECF—a joint venture including Homes England, L&G, and Muse—working together to support sustainable, long-term growth that respects local heritage and skills. This collaborative approach is evident in adjacent areas like Earlestown.

1. Focus on improving public infrastructure to support health, safety, and accessibility for all, including those with disabilities

The project prioritizes creating safe, inclusive spaces for diverse communities. Measures to improve safety in the town center include increased CCTV, Secured By Design principles for reducing crime and anti-social behavior, taxi marshals, improved lighting at taxi ranks, joint enforcement, and increased communications and marketing in the town center.

The design of the new buildings in St Helens' town center transformation plans draws inspiration from the town's past, with architectural glass and references to local architectural traditions. The approach to lighting involves multi-layered lighting, with a combination of uplighting, wall-mounted lighting, and street lighting, aiming to avoid bright floodlights that create pockets of darkness, glare, or shadows.

Successful urban center regeneration today calls for a much wider breadth of activity beyond just shopping. The new St Helens town center will feature a 25,000 sq ft Market Hall, a 120-bedroom globally branded hotel, 75,000 sq ft of office space, 64 new homes, and 11,000 sq. ft. modern retail space. The new Market Hall will serve as a daytime and evening destination, with space for arts events and entertainment, and places to eat and drink.

The project also prioritizes creating safe, inclusive spaces for all, including children. Children's requests for the town center included more green spaces, flexible outdoor event areas, better access to public transportation, and safer public areas. Over the past two years, there have been two large-scale engagement and consultation programs, pop-up events, a website for feedback, local media engagement, business briefings, and school visits to gather input from various demographics.

St Helens Borough Council is also collaborating with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside to secure funding for projects aimed at making women safer in the night-time economy. The borough's nighttime campaign has resulted in a reduction in crime figures and recognition by the Purple Flag Charter, which focuses on raising standards and broadening the appeal of town and city centers between 5pm and 5am.

In summary, St Helens Borough Council and ECF are working towards building back better, focusing on real change in the borough. The end goal is to create safe, inclusive town centers that serve as vibrant hubs for residents and visitors alike.

1. The regeneration project in St Helens and Earlestown, led by St Helens Borough Council and English Cities Fund, aims to create a lifestyle that promotes health and wellness, with the new St Helens town center featuring a Market Hall, a globally branded hotel, offices, homes, and modern retail spaces.
2. The civic partnership is prioritizing women's health by partnering with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside to secure funding for projects that make women safer in the night-time economy.
3. The innovation in the housing and home-and-garden sector is evident in the design of the new buildings, which draw inspiration from St Helens' historical architectural traditions, and the approach to lighting that avoids creating pockets of darkness, glare, or shadows.
4. The project's science-based approach to safety includes measures like increased CCTV, Secured By Design principles, and improvements in transportation access, all aimed at providing safe, user-friendly spaces for diverse community members, including those with disabilities.
5. The regeneration plans foster a sense of community engagement by ensuring broad input through extensive public consultations and collaborations with local businesses, schools, and various demographics to create spaces that best serve the needs and priorities of St Helens residents.

Read also: