St Helens Borough Council to masterplan Bold Forest Garden Village

Article date: December 5th 2024

The Masterplan Framework will look at how the site could accommodate in the region of 3,000 high quality new homes, including a minimum of 30 per cent affordable units and meet the needs for health, play, transport and education. It will also focus on creating a network of green spaces to connect with, and complement, the natural beauty of the surrounding Bold Forest Park that will continue to benefit the communities of Bold, Clock Face, Sutton and the wider area.

To inform the development of the Masterplan Framework, there will be a range of opportunities in the New Year for residents and community groups to talk about what is important to them as part of the project. As the largest allocated housing site in the Boroughs Local Plan and the wider Liverpool City Region, Bold Forest Garden Village can meet the growing need for new homes and amenities.

Approval of the Masterplan Framework is scheduled for Autumn 2025. 

Lisa Harris, Executive Director of Place Services, at St Helens Borough Council, said:  

"Through balanced regeneration and sustainable growth, the borough is creating a range of attractive, healthy, safe, inclusive and accessible places in which to invest, visit, work and make St Helens a residential destination of choice.

"Bold Forest Garden Village will be a landscape-led development that optimises its unique location with the outstanding Bold Forest Park Area, creating a new housing market demand and providing complementary opportunities for our existing communities of Bold, Clock Face, Sutton and beyond.

"Avison Young have demonstrated their ability and passion to realise our vision for Bold Forest Garden Village through collaborative production with our communities over the coming months."  

Nicola Rigby, Principal at Avison Young and delivery and planning lead on the project, said:  

"As the largest housing allocation in St Helens and the City Region, Bold Forest Garden Village will make a significant contribution towards economic growth and tackling the housing crisis.

 "However, our collective vision for Bold Forest Garden Village is much more than a housing delivery programme as we want existing and future communities to benefit from diverse environments and green spaces that enhance health and wellbeing.

"Avison Young have brought together a select design team to help St Helens Borough Council and stakeholders to realise the incredible opportunity that is presented by the Bold Forest Garden Village site. We have made a positive start to this important commission and look forward to providing regular updates throughout."