Heritage and local skills combine to shape Earlestown’s future

We’re proud to see the transformation of Earlestown Town Hall gathering pace – and equally pleased that local expertise is playing such a central role in making it happen.

This much-loved Grade II Listed landmark is undergoing a major refurbishment, following the successful completion of a £1m external restoration.

The heritage scheme is being brought forward by St Helens Borough Council and ECF – our partnership with Homes England and L&G.

Together, we are now bringing the building back to life, creating modern community meeting rooms, flexible workspaces, a new courtyard garden and café, and a restored main hall that will once again host performances and events – supporting Earlestown’s evening economy.

Our construction partner, HH Smith & Sons, has been on site in recent months completing vital enabling works and is now moving into the main phase of internal refurbishment and extension. The project remains on track to complete by summer 2026.

Local leadership is at the core of this programme. One of HH Smith’s site managers, Barry Stenson, is St Helens-born and has spoken of the pride he feels leading work on such an important scheme in his hometown.

“We’ve been busy undertaking key works to ready this beautiful building for its refurbishment,” explained Barry. “That included removing old plumbing, drainage and electrical systems that were no longer fit for purpose, and creating key openings to ready the building for a variety of new uses. It’s about sensitivity restoring an historic building so it retains its original charm while being practical and suitable for new uses today and into the future.”

Barry, 53, who is married with two children and a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby League Club, said working on such a landmark project in his home borough brings particular job satisfaction.

“St Helens is my hometown and it’s fantastic to see investment finally coming into the area,” he said. “I feel I have a valuable role in driving the scheme forward. I manage personnel, materials, and resources, while ensuring the site remains safe and compliant. HH Smith & Sons has already used local labour on the project, and that will only increase as we move into the main programme of works.”

HH Smith’s commitment to community impact is also clear. As part of their social impact charter, they are already working with local suppliers and craftspeople – including stone masons and antiques experts – to preserve and restore the building’s features. Over the course of the programme, the contractor will deliver training opportunities for young people, work experience placements, new job starts, school site visits, and support for local organisations.

The Town Hall is part of a wider regeneration plan for Earlestown, supported by £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, alongside £8m from St Helens Borough Council. The project is also benefitting from more than £1m of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding, enabling us to incorporate sustainable features such as air source heat pumps, insulation upgrades, and efficient lighting.

Beyond the Town Hall, further investment will transform the town’s historic market square into a high-quality public space, while proposals are being developed with rail partners to improve accessibility and the environment at Earlestown Rail Station.

As Matt Whiteley, our Senior Development Manager, put it:

Councillor Anthony Burns, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said:

“This investment is a game-changer for Earlestown and our wider borough and I am pleased to see works continuing at pace to revitalise this key landmark. Earlestown Town Hall is a treasured building, and seeing it restored and repurposed as part of this major regeneration programme is a source of great pride for our community. It’s also about more than bricks and mortar – it’s about jobs, opportunities, and a brighter future for local people. Throughout the Earlestown Town Hall project, the contractor has committed to utilising a local supply chain, workforce and merchants. It’s absolutely central to our approach to regeneration that local people benefit in terms of jobs, skills and local spend.”