Plans under preparation

Plans and Polices 

Below are some of the documents that are currently in their preparation stages, which are yet to be adopted by St Helens Borough Council.  

Notice to commence an update of the St Helens Local Plan 

Under the new plan-making system (The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, Part 4 Regulation 19), the Council is required to publish a 'Notice of Intention' to commence Local Plan preparation. 

St Helens Borough Council gives notice of its intention to commence the preparation of a new local plan, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, Part 4, Regulation 19.  

The title of the local plan is, the St Helens Borough Local Plan and it will cover the local planning authority/administrative area (ONS E08000013).   

The St Helens Borough Local Plan will set out the spatial planning framework for the whole of St Helens up to 2044. The St Helens Borough Local Plan will incorporate the Minerals and Waste policies for the Borough previously covered by the Joint Merseyside Waste Local Plan and the Bold Forest Area Action Plan.

Notice of Intention 2026 (PDF, 408 KB)

 Local Plan Timetable 

Under the new plan-making system (The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulation 2026, Part 2 Regulation 4), we are required to publish a Local Plan Timetable and to provide updates (Regulation 6). 

The purpose of the Local Plan Timetable is to set out key milestones for the preparation of the Local Plan. It provides a clear, transparent programme for plan preparation and opportunities for communities, stakeholders and decision makers to get involved and monitor progress. 

The Local Plan Timetable replaces the Local Development Scheme February 2025. 

St Helens Local Plan Timetable (PDF, 68 KB)
St Helens Local Plan Timetable CSV (Excel doc, 4 KB)
A copy of the Local Plan Timetable and notice of intention can also be viewed at: 

St Helens Town Hall 
Victoria Square 
St Helens Council  
WA10 1HP

Paper copies available on request at planningpolicy@sthelens.gov.uk

Neighbourhood Plans 

Both Rainford Parish Council and Windle Parish Council as the relevant bodies, have now submitted and had approved an application to designate their parish areas as Neighbourhood Areas for the purposes of neighbourhood planning. Both applications were approved by St Helens Borough Council on the 7th of December 2023. 

Details of each designated Neighbourhood Area can be found here. 

Neighbourhood Plans are prepared separately by a parish council, or neighbourhood forum and allow local residents to create a plan with real legal weight that directs development in their local area. 

Once 'made' a Neighbourhood Plan will form part of the 'Development Plan'. The Neighbourhood Plan can be a powerful tool to ensure the community gets the right types of development, in the right place, this could include sites for new homes, shops, offices, services, facilities and infrastructure. 

More information on Neighbourhood Plans can be found on the Neighbourhood planning page.

The Liverpool City Region Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) 

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is continuing work on developing its first Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). The SDS will be a statutory land-use planning document, setting out a framework for development in the Liverpool City Region looking ahead for at least the next 15 years.  When finalised the SDS will form part of the Development Plan for the city region along with adopted Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans in the six Liverpool City Region local authority areas.  

For more information, answers to Frequently Asked Questions and the latest news, please go to: www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/sdsengagement