Vinci gets green light for £35m St Helens transport hub

Vinci Building has got the green light to start work on St Helens Interchange, a £35m transport hub in the centre of St Helens.

The new Interchange will include 11 bus stands, enclosed waiting areas, a Travel Centre, real-time info screens, step-free access, and secure cycle parking. It replaces the old bus station, which has already been demolished.

The scheme is being delivered by St Helens Council and ECF – a joint venture between Muse, Homes England and Legal & General – backed by £32m from the Liverpool City Region and £3.25m from the Towns Fund.

Work is already underway on underground services, with construction of the new hub set to ramp up next year. Completion is due in 2026 to coincide with the launch of the region’s first franchised bus services.

Planning approval follows extensive public consultation in 2024. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said, "When our first franchised bus services roll out in St Helens next year, they'll be serving this brand-new interchange, which will seamlessly connect passengers to our trains and active travel links. We're putting the 'public' back into public transport by building a system that's faster, cheaper, greener, and better connected - with local people at its heart."

Councillor Anthony Burns, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said, "It's an exciting time and planning approval is an important milestone, allowing us to press on with public transport improvements and creating a more attractive welcome, which are both key to our vision for St Helens town centre.

"The approved St Helens Interchange will ensure the town's long-term public transport needs are met, with a more efficient operational layout that will vastly improve the experience of passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. Together with the new public realm that's now been given the green light, it will form a key gateway into the town centre, creating a vibrant and welcoming high-quality public space."

The Interchange is part of a wider regeneration plan including a new market hall, 120-bed Hampton by Hilton hotel, 57 flats, 8 townhouses and shops, supported by £69m of public and private funding.