• Specialist groundworks begin for the state-of-the-art St Helens Transport Interchange
• Grouting rigs are stabilising the site by treating old coal seams to secure the foundation
• Essential groundwork is underway before main construction on the project, being delivered with £32m of funding from the Combined Authority

The next stage in the creation of a state-of-the-art transport interchange for St Helens town centre is underway, with specialist machinery arriving on site as part of the ground improvement and remediation works ahead of main construction activity.

Groundworks get underway at the site of the new St Helens Transport Interchange

Main contractor VINCI Building has appointed a specialist firm to carry out ground improvement and remediation on behalf of St Helens Borough Council and ECF, a partnership between Homes England, L&G, and Muse.

Grouting rigs are now operating on the site to check drill and, where necessary, grout any disused and fractured coal seams to reduce the risk of ground movement that could otherwise affect the new transport interchange buildings.

Cllr Steve Foulkes chair of the Transport Committee at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “It’s excellent to see the St Helens Interchange project moving into its next phase, laying the groundwork for a new era of connectivity in the town.

Being delivered with £32 million of funding from the Combined Authority, the scheme will better connect bus and rail services with active travel links. It’s part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s plans to create a transport system for the region that’s faster, cheaper, greener, and better connected – and with local people at its heart.”

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at St Helens Borough Council, said: “Coal mining shaped St Helens’ growth, supporting industries such as glassmaking that remain central to the town’s identity. While mining left its mark underground, we have the means to positively manage that legacy and the transport interchange project is progressing well, turning that history into a foundation for renewal.”

Martin Horton, Senior Project Manager at VINCI Building, said: “St Helens has a mining legacy that dates back to the 16th century, and coal was a driving force behind the town’s rapid growth during the 18th and 19th centuries. That activity extended into what became the town centre. Today’s ground stabilisation techniques ensure that this legacy does not create settlement or subsidence issues in the future, giving the new transport interchange a secure foundation for generations to come.”

Matt Whiteley, Senior Development Manager for ECF, commented: “Everyone on the project team is pleased to be pressing on and moving towards the construction phase on the new St Helens Transport Interchange.  Britain’s industrial heritage is never far away when you are working in urban environments, particularly in the North West, but we have the skills and the technologies to make sure that brownfield sites can be successfully redeveloped.”

The approved St Helens Transport Interchange will transform travel for bus passengers, cyclists and pedestrians, creating a welcoming and accessible green gateway to the revitalised town centre.

Key features include 11 bus stands (up from nine) to support the region’s bus franchising plans, fully enclosed, temperature-controlled concourses with warm waiting areas, real-time information for both buses and trains and step-free access throughout and automatic doors at every stand. The St Helens Transport Interchange will also feature a new Travel Centre and accessible toilets, including a Changing Places facility and secure indoor and outdoor cycle parking with improved wayfinding.

The surrounding public realm will also be upgraded, better linking the transport interchange with St Helens Central Rail Station and local landmarks including the Gamble Building, Theatre Royal, and the forthcoming Hampton by Hilton hotel. A new civic square, improved lighting and high-quality street furniture will create a vibrant and secure public space.

The £35 million project is funded through £32 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), £3.25 million from the Government’s Towns Fund, and contributions from St Helens Borough Council.