Plans have been unveiled for a regeneration of Skelmersdale town centre which would see 600 homes, a railway station and 28,000 sq ft of commercial space built as part of the £150million scheme.
Tawd Valley Development, West Lancashire Council’s housing and commercial developer, is leading on the delivery of the scheme, with Tetra Tech and Lambert Smith Hampton drawing up the 75-acre masterplan.
The planned new railway station will form a major part of the development, replacing the one that shut in 1956 and improving the town’s connectivity to Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan.
Tawd Valley Development’s managing director, Mark Kitts, said: “We want to better connect our residents to the region’s wider employment and leisure opportunities, whilst making it easier for people to visit our modern and dynamic town centre, once delivered.”
“Extending Merseyrail’s metro line from Liverpool Central to Skelmersdale would be an absolute game-changer in terms of the town’s economic potential and is a cornerstone ambition of West Lancashire Borough Council.”
The plans also include the building of a well-being and leisure hub, a new business incubator, the enhancement of the town library, an update to the public realm around the Concourse Shopping Centre and upgrades to Tawd Valley Park to strengthen its links to the town centre.
The 600 homes will be created across three sites, the largest in Glenburn where a mix of 425 market and affordable homes would be situated near the new train station. A smaller site has been earmarked for 18 affordable homes while 182 apartments would be added to the town centre core, with commercial spaces occupying the ground floor.
Mark Kitts said: “Our proposals will boost the town’s population whilst providing it with a modern and attractive town centre that will, of itself, encourage additional residents to move to the area.”
“Developers can see the town’s positive trajectory in terms of employment, new commercial occupiers and housing improvement and believe there’s a role for them to take Skelmersdale to the next level.”
“We want to put our thinking to the test with people who understand the market dynamics of town centres and the funding opportunities that go with them.”
West Lancashire Council Leader Cllr, Yvonne Gagen, said: “By focusing on sustainability, economic growth, and wellbeing, we’re creating a greener, more vibrant town and building a better life for our communities.”
“This ambitious but achievable transformation will have a clear path for progress and funding and will bring real benefits to residents and businesses, and we’re excited to work together to shape and deliver Skelmersdale’s future.”
A consultation over the proposed plans is currently underway and will conclude on 25 November.
