Decision ref
0010 2026/27
Decision date
10/07/2026
Portfolio
Business, Highways & Transport
Wards
Peasley Cross and Fingerpost
Title
Peasley Cross Roundabout Improvement Scheme
Summary
Contract award to deliver the Peasley Cross Roundabout Improvement Scheme.
Purpose
To formally approve the direct award of the contract to Huyton Asphalt via the Procure Partnerships North West Infrastructure Framework (Infrastructure Lot 9) for delivery of the Peasley Cross Roundabout Improvement Scheme at a cost of £3.184m.
Background
Peasley Cross Roundabout currently provides poor-quality infrastructure for people walking, wheeling, and cycling, creating a significant barrier to sustainable travel. The junction is a five-arm roundabout (Peasley Cross Lane, Parr Street, Linkway East, and Phoenix Brow) with very limited and substandard provision for active travel users. It has been identified as a major point of severance, restricting movement to and from the town centre and key destinations, including St Helens Retail Park, the Brewdog Stadium (home of St Helens Rugby League FC and Liverpool FC Women), and St Helens Borough Council’s Hardshaw Brook Depot.
Public consultation, including the Commonplace Liveable Streets crowdsourcing exercise undertaken in 2021, identified junctions such as Peasley Cross as priority locations for improvement, particularly to support pedestrian and cycling movements. The scheme directly complements wider measures being developed as part of the St Helens town centre regeneration programme, supporting broader objectives around connectivity, accessibility, and sustainable growth.
The scheme will include full carriageway resurfacing of the roundabout and its associated arms, alongside the replacement and enhancement of the existing drainage system, which is currently in need of repair. These works will be complemented by the introduction of controlled shared pedestrian and cycle (Toucan) crossings across three of the five arms of the roundabout (Peasley Cross Lane, Linkway East, and Parr Street), improving accessibility and safety for active travel users. In addition, surrounding footways will be upgraded to accommodate cycle movements, incorporating a combination of shared and segregated (footway and cycle track) infrastructure. Bus stop provision will also be enhanced, including the introduction of a new stop on Peasley Cross Lane adjacent to St Helens Retail Park.
The scheme is funded through a combination of £2,048,025 from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), £1,176,450 from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund (ATF3), £60,000 from SINA planning contribution (No.13) , and £150,000 of Council match funding from the Transport for the City Region budget. The total approved budget for the scheme is £3.434m.
This proposed delivery route is different from that outlined in the Cabinet report approved on 23 October 2024. The changes are necessitated by the original delivery model (via The English Cities Fund (ECF) and Vinci Building UK, with Huyton Asphalt as the sub-contractor) becoming unaffordable within the approved budget envelope of £3.434m. Following meetings in April 2026, updated cost estimates confirmed that forecast costs significantly exceed the available budget, with construction costs alone currently estimated at approximately £3.5m, excluding professional management fees. This presents a material affordability and delivery risk under the original delivery model via ECF and Vinci. As the majority of the funding is externally sourced and time-limited, the revised approach ensures that the funding can be fully utilised.
A direct award is recommended due to the significant design and development work already undertaken by Huyton Asphalt under the existing Overarching Development Agreement (ODA) between the Council, ECF and Vinci, where Vinci acted as the main construction and delivery partner. This revised delivery approach removes the ECF management layer and Tier 1 contractor involvement, replacing these with in-house highways resource, while retaining Huyton Asphalt as the Tier 2 delivery contractor.
Following review, a direct award to Huyton Asphalt via the Procure Partnerships North West Infrastructure Framework, a fully compliant route to market, has been identified as the optimum delivery option. As confirmed with STAR Procurement, Huyton Asphalt is the preferred delivery partner due to their longstanding involvement as the named subcontractor under the ECF arrangement, their early contractor involvement in the scheme’s design and cost development, and their detailed understanding of site constraints and traffic management requirements at this complex location.
This existing knowledge base significantly reduces mobilisation time and delivery risk, which is particularly important given that the external funding is time-limited. City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) funding must be allocated by 31 March 2027, and Active Travel Fund (ATF3) funding must be allocated by 28 February 2027. Proceeding via a direct award route will therefore support timely delivery of the scheme and ensure that the Council can fully utilise the secured external funding.
Conclusion
This Delegated Executive Decision (DED) seeks approval for Council to issue a direct award to Huyton Asphalt via the Procure Partnerships North West Infrastructure Framework (Infrastructure Lot 9 - £1m to £5m) to deliver the Peasley Cross Roundabout Improvement scheme (junction of Peasley Cross Lane/Linkway East/Parr Street, Parr Street and Phoenix Brow) at a cost of £3.184m.
The selected delivery approach is the most cost-effective option available and will permit delivery against the time-limited external funding secured that comprises the majority of the scheme budget. By delivering via direct award and managing in-house via Council, greater control and flexibility can be afforded to the scheme to maintain deliverability and against budget.
The scheme will include full carriageway resurfacing of the roundabout and its associated arms, alongside the replacement and enhancement of the existing drainage system, which is currently in need of repair. These works will be complemented by the introduction of controlled shared pedestrian and cycle (Toucan) crossings across three of the five arms of the roundabout (Peasley Cross Lane, Linkway East, and Parr Street), improving accessibility and safety for active travel users. In addition, surrounding footways will be upgraded to accommodate cycle movements, incorporating a combination of shared and segregated (footway and cycle track) infrastructure. Bus stop provision will also be enhanced, including the introduction of a new stop on Peasley Cross Lane adjacent to St Helens Retail Park.
The increase in the quality and safety of walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure within the scheme will help provide a more accessible route for walking and wheeling within the area, and therefore link people to potential job opportunities, local amenities and schools by providing a safer and accessible active travel route within the area.
Risk Implications
Through the Council’s risk management processes, it has been identified that an alternative delivery route is required to ensure the scheme remains deliverable within the available budget. External funding constitutes the majority of the scheme’s funding package and is subject to strict timescales. As such, expedient delivery is essential, and a direct award approach has been identified as the most appropriate and efficient revised delivery route.
Notwithstanding this approach, risks remain in relation to cost control, programme delivery, and overall timescales. The Council retains full responsibility for any expenditure that exceeds the approved funding allocations, as there is no provision for additional external grant funding.
Mitigation measures are in place to manage these risks. A contingency budget at 20% has been incorporated within the overall budget envelope, providing flexibility to address unforeseen costs. This will be actively managed by the Strategic Transport Team acting as client, with delivery overseen by the Highways Service. The Highways Service will also undertake site-based project management and Clerk of Works responsibilities, ensuring robust oversight of construction quality, programme performance, and cost control throughout the delivery of the scheme.
Measures to Redress Risk
Approval for a direct award will mitigate the potential loss of funding should the scheme not be delivered in a timely manner.
A live risk register has been established, providing a quantified assessment of key risks associated with the scheme. This is supported by robust contingency planning to ensure preparedness for unforeseen events.
These monitoring arrangements enable ongoing review and active management of risks throughout the project lifecycle, allowing issues to be identified and addressed promptly. This proactive approach strengthens overall risk management and supports effective decision-making during scheme delivery.
Declarations Of Interest
None
Equality Impact Assessment
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More information
Please contact David Saville on 01744 676148
