A vision for a thriving Earlestown
St Helens Borough Council and its strategic development partner the English Cities Fund (ECF) are bringing forward ambitious plans to restore Earlestown to its rightful status as a thriving market town.
These proposals will strengthen the town’s offering, by creating spaces that residents, local businesses and visitors can make greater use of and enjoy. This includes creating a more animated, attractive, and flexible market square and returning the historic Town Hall to its rightful place as a community hub, alongside accessibility and environmental improvements.
The vision for Earlestown town centre has been informed by public consultation, the objectives set out within the Conservation Management Plan and the following key objectives:
Thriving centre
Creating a sustainable, accessible, and connected town centre.
A place for all
To provide a healthy and community- focused town centre with high-quality spaces and places for independent businesses and community functions to thrive.
Pride in place
Positively changing perceptions of the town.
Built on heritage
To build on the success of the historic market, encouraging more creatives and independent businesses to establish themselves within Earlestown.
Future town
To deliver a diverse, vibrant and animated town centre that responds to the changing nature of the high-street.
Built for living
Promoting high quality town centre living.
In Winter 2021 we carried out an extensive public consultation into our Draft Earlestown Town Centre Masterplan Development Framework.
This found that:
94%
Of people supported our ambition to revive Earlestown town centre and deliver a new vibrant destination and place
84%
Agreed the Market Square should be the focus of the first phase of work
80%
Supported our ambitions to create an improved balance between pedestrians, cyclists and car users in Earlestown
Many people expressed the view that they would like to see the restoration of the Town Hall and street improvements included in the first phase of work in Earlestown.
Following the consultation, the amended Masterplan Development Framework was adopted in February 2022, and a hybrid planning application for the redevelopment of Earlestown town centre was subsequently approved in Summer 2022.
In January 2023, £20m of investment was secured for Earlestown from Round 2 of the Government’s Levelling up Fund. This has enabled us to bring our plans for the internal restoration of the Town Hall forward to be delivered alongside the Market Square and public realm improvements in the first phase of work.
Over recent months we have enjoyed productive discussions with community groups and traders in Earlestown as we have developed our designs for these proposals. It is our intention to submit a Reserved Matters planning application for the Market Square and a detailed planning application and listed building consent application for the works to the Town Hall by the end of this year.
Before that happens, it is important to us that we hear your views. What do you think of our plans? How can we make them even better?
St. Helens Borough Council and The English Cities Fund are holding a series of public consultation events about the regeneration of Earlestown and the Market Square.
Sat 25th Nov
9am – 12.30pm
Earlestown Market
Market St, Earlestown,
Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9AQ
Mon 27th Nov
4pm – 8pm
Cross Lane United Church
11 Cross Ln, Newton-le-Willows
WA12 9PT
Tue 28th Nov
3pm – 5pm
Newton Community Centre
Park Rd S, Newton-le-Willows
WA12 8EX
Wed 29th Nov
10am – 3pm
Crownway Community Centre
Crown St, Newton-le-Willows
WA12 9DA
Fri 1st Dec
10.30am – 3pm
Earlestown Market
Market St, Earlestown,
Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9AQ
Sat 2nd Dec
10am – 3pm
Newton Le Willows Health and Fitness
Ashton Rd, Newton-le-Willows
WA12 0AG
Have your say
It is important to us that we hear your views. What do you think of our plans? How can we make them even better? You can provide your views by completing a feedback survey today.
The consultation will close on 6th December 2023.
Have your say
