Proposed transformation of old Newton-le-Willows colliery could create 1200 jobs

The developers behind a proposed scheme to regenerate the disused colliery at Parkside in Newton-le-Willows have revealed that that they will submit a planning application on July 31.

Bosses at Parkside Regeneration, a joint venture between developer Langtree and St Helens Council, also confirmed this morning (June 29) that they will hold further public information days in advance of the application’s submission, enabling the public to see how the site could look.

John Downes, group MD at Langtree, said: “We have consulted extensively on our proposals and received some very constructive feedback.

“Where practical we’ve incorporated a number of suggestions into our proposals and intend to share them with the public before we submit our plans.”

The plans cover the proposed first stage of the development, which would incorporate as much as 1,000,000 sq ft of new employment space and provide up to 1,200 new jobs for the area.

Further, it would generate an estimated £40m a year in economic activity and add £3.25m annually in rates payments for the council.

St Helens Council Leader Cllr Barrie Grunewald commented: “The submission of a planning application is a key milestone in the joint venture’s ambitions for Parkside.

“It will show us the nature and scale of the opportunity before us to deal with long-term, generational unemployment in St Helens and bring a redundant, brownfield site back in to productive use.”

Although no date has been set for the planning application to be heard, it is expected to be ruled upon before the end of 2017.

The public exhibitions for the plans will be held from 4pm to 8pm on Tuesday, July 11 at Hope Academy, Newton le Willows, and again from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday July 13 at Winwick Leisure Centre, Winwick.

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