Menu
ON THE MOVE AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Interim Movement Strategy
WELCOME
St Helens town centre is undergoing a major transformation as work begins on the first phase of its once-in-a-lifetime regeneration programme.
Any project of this scale will inevitably include some temporary disruption for which we apologise in advance, but making sure that travel around the town centre remains safe, easy and straightforward is our highest priority. And so, St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Merseytravel and ECF, working with public transport operators, have collaborated on a strategy to keep the town centre moving during this important transformation.
This includes creating a new temporary bus hub, changes to walking and driving routes and new locations for taxi ranks and accessible parking.
Here you will find more information on these changes and how they are contributing to ensure that St Helens town centre is fit for the future, offering a well-connected, accessible, and attractive place for people to live, work, visit and invest.
The journey to our new, improved town centre starts now.
YOUR NEW HUB FOR BUS SERVICES
From Winter 2024, St Helens current bus station on Bickerstaffe Street will close to make way for the construction of a new, extended modern Multi-Modal Transport interchange in the heart of the revitalised town centre.
During the construction works buses will operate from a purpose-built temporary bus hub located on Chalon Way West.
Chalon Way West was chosen because it offers easy access to shops, amenities, and employment areas in the town centre and is the least disruptive option.
The temporary bus hub will include a travel centre on Foundry Street, seven new bus shelters and new pedestrian crossing points at both the Bridge Street and Market Street ends of Chalon Way West.
All bus services that currently begin at the existing bus station will do so from the new temporary bus hub.
Some services will terminate on Bridge Street before entering the temporary bus hub.
A full timetable will be published and shared in advance of the temporary bus hub opening.
CHANGES TO WALKING ROUTES
During construction there will be no access for pedestrians along Bickerstaffe Street between Library Street and Hall Street, once the construction hoardings are installed.
There will also be no pedestrian access along Library Street, between Bickerstaffe Street and Corporation Street.
On Hall Street there will be restricted access between Corporation Street and Church Street. Pedestrians will be able to walk along this stretch of Hall Street but only one footpath to the east will be accessible, in front of the local shops and amenities.
Wayfinding signs across the town centre will be updated to provide clear directions to pedestrians to key landmarks and services, including the temporary bus hub and new taxi rank locations.
CHANGES TO DRIVING AND CYCLING ROUTES
The majority of road journeys through the town centre will be unaffected by the construction works.
The most significant changes are the closure of Bickerstaffe Street to all road users – including service and maintenance vehicles – between Hall Street and Library Street, with the permanent closure of the Hardshaw Centre car park as part of the scheduled shopping centre demolition.
Hall Street will become a one-way route (southbound) during the construction phase for all road vehicles between Bickerstaffe Street and George Street.
More information on cycle routes within St Helens town centre and across the borough can be found here.
NEW AND EXPANDED TAXI RANKS
We are making some changes to the location of taxi ranks in the town centre to ensure they remain convenient and close to areas of high footfall when construction work begins.
As of 24 July 2024, existing taxi ranks on Hall Street, Bridge Street and Chalon Way West will no longer be operating. These will be replaced with a range of new and expanded ranks at locations across the town centre.
New 24hr Taxi Ranks
- Bridge Street (The Market Tavern)
- Church Street (Outside B&M, two ranks on both sides of the road)
- Shaw Street (Millennium Pharmacy, opposite the train station)
Other 24hr Taxi Ranks
- Claughton Street (corner of College Street)
- Ormskirk Street North (Iceland)
- Ormskirk Street South (Natwest)
Nighttime Taxi Ranks
- Baldwin Street (The Sefton)
- Cotham Street (Former Wilkinsons)
- North John Street
- Westfield Street (Two ranks)
- Waterloo Street
- Bridge Street (The Nelson)
- Exchange Street
Click here to download a map of the new taxi ranks.
PARKING FOR BLUE BADGE HOLDERS
The creation of the temporary bus hub means it’s necessary to relocate the accessible (blue badge) on-street parking bays currently situated either side of the road on Chalon Way West and Foundry Street. To enable construction of the temporary bus hub, these on-street parking bays will no longer be in use from 22 July 2024.
These parking spaces will be redistributed at other locations in the town centre. The majority will be provided in a dedicated, free-to-use accessible car park on Parade Street. The remainder will be provided in the existing, pay-and-display car park on Birchley Street.
These spaces are in addition to 94 existing, accessible parking spaces located around the town centre at on-street locations and within car parks.
PARKING FOR OTHER VEHICLES
CYCLE PARKING
During construction the following cycle parking facilities will no longer be available for use:
- St Helens Bus Station, outside bus stands 4-5 – capacity for 2 bikes
- Library Street/Corporation Street junction, two sheltered stands – capacity for 10 bikes
- Hall Street, side of Hardshaw Shopping Centre – capacity for 2 bikes
Cycle parking facilities are available throughout the town centre and at most major shopping, leisure, education, transport and employment sites , including but not limited to:
- St Helens College – capacity for 13 bikes
- St Helens Central Railway Station – capacity for 10 bikes
- St Helens Town Hall – capacity for 5 bikes
- Market Street, Church Square Shopping Centre – capacity for 2 bikes
- Haydock Street – capacity for 3 bikes
- Shaw Street/Parr Street, near roundabout – capacity for 3 bikes
- Hardshaw Street outside Century House – capacity for 2 bikes
- Church Street/Bridge Street – capacity for 3 bikes
- Ormskirk Street/Barrow Street, outside Café Nero and Natwest – capacity for 3 bikes
- Ormskirk Street/Cotham Street – capacity for 3 bikes
- Claughton Street near car park- capacity for 2 bikes
- Cotham Street/Claughton Street – capacity for 4 bikes
- Tesco Extra supermarket – capacity for 17 bikes
- Ravenhead Retail Park near Flannels – capacity for 8 bikes
- St Helens Retail Park, outside Halfords – capacity for 5 bikes
- World of Glass – capacity for 7 bikes
New high-quality, secure, sheltered, accessible and convenient cycle parking facilities will be provided as part of the new permanent St Helens Multi-Modal Interchange scheme, replacing the provision removed as part of the scheme’s development.
MOTORCYCLE PARKING
To support the delivery of the interim movement strategy during the construction phase, we are making changes to the location of some on-street motorcycle parking bays within the town centre. The on-street bays scheduled for removal are located in; Foundry Street, Shaw Street and Cotham Street, with a new motorcycle bay provided along Church Street.
Motorcycles may park in council car parks and in on-street pay and display parking bays.
Six secure parking spaces are located on Waterloo Street and North John Street car parks.
Payment is required for parking in off-street car parks, we recommend that tickets be displayed in a clear tax disc holder, where required.
COACH PARKING
Two coach bays are provided for the setting down and picking up of passengers, located in Charles Street and Shaw Street.
MOTORHOME PARKING
There are no designated motorhome parking areas available at this time.
LORRY PARKING
There are no designated lorry parking bays or facilities available at this time.
TIMELINE
JOURNEY PLANNING
PLAN YOUR JOURNEY
Leaving the car at home could provide an opportunity to see more of St Helens town centre and prompt you to explore the bits you never knew were there. There are a range of journey planning tools
- If you need a door-to-door journey plan for your trip, try the free Journey Planner available on the Merseytravel website.
- For more information on cycle routes within St Helens town centre and across the borough. Please view our discovering St Helens by bike map.
- Cycle-friendly routes can be planned with a free journey planner from Cycling UK.
- Alternatively try the free Smart Green Journey mobile app which helps you to travel more sustainably for short journeys by showing you just how much money and carbon you could save by walking and cycling instead.
STAYING UP TO DATE
Visit sthelenstowncentre.co.uk to keep up to date with the latest news on the town centre regeneration projects.
Any questions can be directed to the Multi Modal Interchange team by emailing: multimodalinterchange@sthelens.gov.uk
ABOUT US
St Helens Borough Council has formed a 20-year partnership with The English Cities Fund (ECF) to bring forward a once-in-a-generation opportunity to regenerate St Helens Town Centre.
ECF is a partnership between Muse, Legal and General and Homes England. The partnership was formed in 2001 and has worked with councils, landowners and communities to create exceptional places across the UK. ECF brings together investment, regeneration expertise and long-term commitment to shape towns and cities for the better. You can learn more about St Helens Borough Council here and ECF here.
The nationwide place maker, Muse, has almost 40 years of experience creating mixed-use communities across the UK.
Its track record of leading complex, mixed-use regeneration gives it the experience to deliver successful places, with the emphasise on sustainability, community and quality.
Click here to read our Privacy Policy.