VINCI Building named as contractor for first phase of St Helens regeneration

Our strategic joint venture, ECF and our partner, St Helens Borough Council, have appointed VINCI Building (VINCI) as the contractor to deliver the first phase of regeneration in St Helens town centre.

The project will revitalise the heart of St Helens town centre and is aiming to start on site in early 2024, subject to a detailed reserved matters planning application, due in the Autumn.

VINCI will lead the construction of a stunning market hall flanked by a mixed-use area, a 120-bedroom globally-branded hotel, 64 new homes and 11,000 sq ft of modern retail space, as part of the initial phase. The scope of initial works will also replace the existing bus station with a modern multi-modal interchange, as well as active travel improvements across the wider town centre.

The newly-named contractor will be working to bespoke sustainability strategies for each building that have been developed by the council and ECF and focus on five key themes: net zero carbon; enhancing biodiversity; social value; circular economy, and health / wellbeing.

Aside from creating new buildings and spaces, which will be enjoyed by children and families for many years, the regeneration will deliver significant social value in direct support of the council’s recently adopted Inclusive Growth Strategy, with phase 1A and 1B creating up to 485 new jobs and generating £23.2 million Gross Value Added each year.

During the new place’s construction, VINCI, will use companies within the borough where possible and buy locally as part of the supply chain. The partnership with ECF and the council will also look to create significant training and employment opportunities for local people, and will strive deliver as much positive impact in the community as possible, through local initiatives that include the Ways to Work scheme, connecting with St Helens College and local schools, while at the same time supporting local social enterprise projects.

Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone and to have taken yet another step closer to work starting on site. VINCI Building have been given the responsibility of delivering a high-quality and highly sustainable first phase development that, during the build programme, will benefit the people of St Helens through a wide range of social value measures.

“Everyone with St Helens’ best interests at heart shares in the belief we need to restore the town centre to its former glory. That means bringing back a sense of our true heritage but also future proofing our buildings, public areas, and transport so that they are fit for purpose. A great deal of time, energy and thought has gone into listening to what our community wants – a high-quality scheme that will be uniquely St Helens. VINCI Building has the experience and capability to help us deliver our vision of a town centre that is child and family-friendly, safe, and sustainable, with thriving places for local businesses, shoppers, visitors, and residents.”

Max Bentham, Development Director at ECF, said:

John Roberts, Managing Director of VINCI Building, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for VINCI Building to showcase our technical expertise in town centre regeneration. This project allows us to increase our social value commitments and add value within the borough and surrounding Liverpool City Region. We look forward to working with ECF and St Helens Borough Council and bringing this project to site.”

VINCI Building was selected through a procurement process governed by the North West Construction Hub.

ECF is our strategic joint venture with Legal & General, one of the UK’s leading financial institutions and major global investor, and the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England.