At a cabinet meeting this week, St Helens Council will be discussing details of potential levelling up bids for the St Helens North constituency and the St Helens South and Whiston constituency.
Focusing on Earlestown town centre, the St Helens North bid will look to re-energise the market, as well as Market Square. This will be done by way of a series of public realm work, the development of a partially covered market structure, and free-standing retail kiosks. The bid will also propose improvements to rail transport, something that has been a staple of many levelling up bids and proposals since the beginning of the levelling up strategy,
The government is currently accepting bids for the second phase of their Levelling Up Fund, all of which must be submitted by the 6th July. The first phase of the funding took place in summer 2021 and St Helens Council did not take part.
The second bid, centring around the St Helens South and Whiston constituency will focus on heritage assets in both St Helens and Prescot town centres. Heritage is a key part of the second phase of the levelling up funding, with many councils around the country looking to revitalise their areas and bring in investment and opportunity by regenerating important heritage sites or buildings in the local area.
The council meeting will take place on Thursday 30th June and councillors will be recommended to approve the bids by two reports, that are on the agenda, relating to the bids.
On 17 November we’re joined by public sector leaders to explore the key challenges that levelling up brings at the Public Sector Levelling Up Virtual Event. Gain insight into what public sector leaders need to navigate the plan while prioritising communities and how to shift regional inequalities to support people and places. Join us for the full day event by registering here.