Public consultation announced for next phase of Parkside Colliery regeneration

Article date: 8 July 2024

The joint venture, established by St Helens Borough Council and developer Langtree, will host the consultation online at https://parksideconsultation.com/ for ten days from Monday 8th July, closing on Thursday 18th July.

The company will be seeking permission for a further 160,000 square metres of floorspace and the second phase will seek permission to house advanced manufacturing businesses alongside more of the blue-chip logistics operators that were the focus of phase one.

"Phase two of Parkside has the potential to generate around £200m of annual economic output," said John Downes, chairman of Parkside Regeneration, and also group chief executive of Langtree.

"This is a transformational number which, when added to the GVA from our first phase, promises a step-change for the local and regional economy."

Commenting on the consultation, Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure said:

"This is an opportunity for residents in Newton-le-Willows and across our borough to have their say on how we make the most of the opportunities that this second phase at Parkside can bring. In this second phase we want to focus on particular opportunities for advanced manufacturing that will bring long-term high quality jobs to our borough so we want to hear your views on the plans."

Homes in the parts of Newton-le-Willows closest to the site, as well as in neighbouring Lowton and Winwick, will be leafleted with details of the consultation website and how to participate.  Members of the Parkside Community Forum, which includes local residents, community leaders, councillors and businesspeople, are also being asked to share details of the consultation site amongst their own networks.

Phase one of Parkside was granted its final consent in March 2024 when a 'reserved matters' planning application was approved by St Helens Borough Council's Planning Committee. 

"We want as many local residents and stakeholders as possible to participate in the consultation.  By placing it on-line, we're able to extend the consultation period and cater for people's lifestyles and work schedules," said John Downes.

A hybrid planning application for the second phase development, which will ask for outline consent for the buildings and detailed consent for the site's infrastructure, is hoped to be submitted by the end of August at the latest.

A major project was recently completed to identify local supply chain partners who can bid to support the scheme's construction across both phases.  Almost 200 registered with the project and work is now underway on supporting applicants with pre-qualification requirements.  Any business still wishing to register can do so at https://thisisparkside.co.uk/local-suppliers/

Spawforths are the planning consultants for the scheme, with Curtins advising on highways and transport matters, Fletcher Rae the architects and TPM Landscape the landscape architects.