Parkside Link Road - a game-changer for local growth in St Helens Borough

Article date: 30 May 2025

• The piece of vital infrastructure in Newton-le-Willows will unlock the growth potential of the largest Freeport tax site in the Liverpool City Region. 

Parkside Link Road is a £60m infrastructure project delivered with £39m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, as well as additional funding from St Helens Borough Council and Parkside Regeneration. It will provide crucial infrastructure to facilitate the economic development of the former Parkside Colliery site in Newton-le-Willows and land to the east of the M6 motorway.  

The new road will ensure traffic generated by the site will be diverted away from residential areas and the A49, while also improving connectivity for commuters and helping to reduce environmental concerns.

Commenting at the event, attended by representatives from St Helens Borough Council; the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority; project contractor, Balfour Beatty, among others, Councillor Anthony Burns, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said:

"Today's unveiling of Parkside Link Road represents a transformative moment for St Helens Borough and the wider Liverpool City Region. This vital infrastructure will not only unlock thousands of new jobs but will also help to regenerate a long-abandoned site, bringing new opportunities to our community. We're proud to see this project delivered and excited about the future it will help to build."

Councillor Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Business and Inclusive Growth, said:

"The completion of this piece of critical infrastructure before any development takes place on the site is a great example of us listening and delivering for our communities.  The speed this infrastructure has been delivered is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by working together with our partners.  It will bring forward regeneration and investment in Newton-le-Willows and beyond.  Parkside Link Road is just the beginning - this project will create long-term benefits for our local economy, create thousands of jobs, and provide a boost to businesses across the region."

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "The investment we've committed to the regeneration of Parkside is a clear statement of our intent: we want to put the Liverpool City Region firmly on the map as one of the best places in the country to invest, innovate and do business.

"This project will have a huge multiplier effect, unlocking development opportunities, creating good jobs, and building an economy that works for local people. By placing innovation and opportunity at its heart, Parkside will not only help to drive growth in St Helens Borough, but play a vital role in shaping a more prosperous future for our region."

Kay Slade, Area Director at Balfour Beatty said: "We are proud to have delivered this transformational project, creating a vital connection to one of the region's most strategically important employment sites and unlocking long-term economic growth for St Helens Borough and the Liverpool City Region.

"Throughout the project duration and through close collaboration with St Helens Council, and our partners, we've created numerous local employment and apprenticeship opportunities, equipping individuals with valuable skills and long-term career prospects with us."

Parkside Link Road will provide vital access to Junction 22 of the M6 motorway, enhancing connectivity for the area and facilitating the movement of goods across the region. This strategic development will generate several thousand jobs across the whole site.

Parkside Link Road is an essential part of a long-term vision to transform the former Parkside Colliery in Newton-le-Willows and land to the east of the motorway into a major employment site. Once a derelict coal mining site, this area will return to being one of the economic engines of the North. The site is set to be revitalised into a key logistics and advanced manufacturing hub, bringing economic growth and regeneration to the region.

The new road stretches for 3.3km and provides vital access to land designated as a Strategic Rail-Freight Interchange, supporting the transformation of the freight industry, reducing the number of HGVs in residential areas and supporting the improvement of passenger rail services. 

The opening of the link road paves the way for the first phase of development to come forward, creating jobs both during the construction stage and in the resultant buildings.  This site is of national importance, and it will create high value, skilled jobs, in logistics and advanced manufacturing sectors. 

The Parkside site is strategically positioned with direct links to the Port of Liverpool and regional transport networks, making it a key driver of economic development in the region.

The link road project has generated £12.8 million in social value for local communities and businesses. This bespoke social value package includes the creation of 14 new jobs, two additional apprenticeship placements, and over 150 dedicated volunteer hours supporting local community projects and initiatives - demonstrating the project's wider commitment to inclusive growth.

With the Parkside Link Road now complete, the next phase of development will continue to drive forward the development of this area, attracting investment, and creating jobs for local residents.

Parkside Link Road will be fully open to traffic from tomorrow (Saturday 31 May). Please note that sections of the new construction have 24-hour clearway traffic regulation orders in place. This means there is no waiting or parking on these routes and have been introduced in order to keep the route clear.

For more information on the next steps for Parkside, visit: www.parksidem6.com