The Planning Committee of St Helens Council met on 2 September 2025, and approved planning applications for a self-storage facility in Rainford, the conversion of a conservative club into a retail unit and flat in Ashton in Makerfield, and a reserved matters application for Phase 1 of the St Helens Town Centre Masterplan. A decision on an application relating to Parr Library was delegated to the Head of Planning.

St Helens Town Centre Masterplan Phase 1 Approved

The committee approved a reserved matters application for Phase 1 of the St Helens Town Centre Masterplan, which covers land bound by Corporation Street, St Helens Central and rail lines, the St Helens Canal, and Bickerstaffe Street and Market Street. The application P/2023/0685/RES sought approval for access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for an office, hotel, residential units, a market, and retail/leisure floorspace.

The Development Control Manager presented the application, highlighting updated comments from United Utilities and Highways Officers. An agent for the applicant also addressed the committee.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to conditions, including that:

• Shop fronts in the ground floor commercial units in plot 4B must have their design, materials, cross sections and any security shutters or grills approved by the council.
• Full details of public art opportunities must be submitted.
• Any non-residential units with commercial kitchens must submit details of extraction, flue or ventilation plant equipment.
• Full details of play equipment proposed to the west side of the new Market Hall must be submitted.
• Full details of the front and rear boundaries of the town houses (plot 4D) must be submitted.
• A scheme of soundproofing insulation must be installed within the floor separating the ground and first floor premises of the apartment building (plot 4B).
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the recommendations and mitigation measures in the Noise Impact Assessment prepared by Hilson Moran.
• A detailed glazing and ventilation scheme must be submitted to demonstrate compliance with internal noise level criteria.
• A verification report must be submitted to demonstrate that the development achieves the internal and external noise level criteria.
• A detailed scheme of the proposed use class for the first occupation of each ground floor commercial unit must be submitted, along with details of hours of opening and servicing.
• Full details of servicing arrangements for the hotel and market hall must be submitted.
• A noise management strategy must be submitted to control impacts from the market on surrounding noise sensitive uses.
• Details of plant and machinery on the roof of the market must be submitted.
• A verification/validation report must be submitted confirming that remediation works have been carried out and any coal risks have been suitably addressed.
• Details of cycle parking facilities must be submitted.
• An updated CCTV strategy must be submitted.
• The landscaping must be managed and maintained for the lifespan of the development in accordance with the submitted Landscape Management & Maintenance Schedule.
• The landscaping and public open spaces must be constructed and laid out in accordance with the specified drawings.
• The development must be operated in accordance with the waste management details set out in the Design and Access Statement.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the ecological mitigation measures detailed in the Ecological Precautionary Working Method Statement (PWMS).
• Invasive species must be treated in accordance with the submitted revised method statement.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the submitted Arboricultural Impact Assessment.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the submitted Air Quality Assessment and the ventilation strategy.
• A lighting scheme must be submitted.
• All vehicle parking spaces must be provided with a smart Electric Vehicle Charging point compliant with The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021¹.
• Stage 1 Road Safety Audits must be submitted for the works to existing and new highway areas.
• Updated layout plans, highway adoption and drainage plans must be provided.
• A scheme for the disposal of surface water from the site must be submitted.
• A sustainable drainage management and maintenance plan must be submitted.

Self-Storage Facility Approved in Rainford

The committee granted planning permission for a part-retrospective application for the installation of 97 self-storage units with associated landscaping, external lighting, parking and signage at 19 Lords Fold, Rainford. The application P/2024/0334/FUL was brought before the committee because of the number of objections received.

The Planning Officer, West presented the application, and an agent for the applicant addressed the committee.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to conditions, including that:

• The development shall be carried out in accordance with the specified planning application drawings.
• All landscaping, landscape management and tree planting detailed within the plan entitled Planting and Management Plan Drawing Number 04 Revision B shall be fully implemented.
• The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Construction Ecological Management Plan (CEMP).
• Details of bird and bat boxes must be provided.
• A lighting scheme must be submitted.
• Details of a covered and secure cycle storage facility must be submitted.
• No further stacking of containers above a single container height above ground level shall take place, other than as detailed on drawing Site Plan and Landscape Plan (Dwg. No. 01 Revision F).

The committee noted that as the proposal was only part-retrospective, it was subject to the biodiversity gain condition².

Retrospective Permission Granted for Change of Use in Ashton in Makerfield

The committee granted retrospective planning permission for the change of use of Garswood Conservative Club, 14 - 16 Station Road, Ashton in Makerfield from a conservative club to a retail unit on the ground floor and a 2-bedroom flat on the first floor. The application P/2025/0208/FUL also included the installation of air conditioning units. The application was brought before the committee due to the number of objections received.

The Planning Officer, East presented the application.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to conditions, including that:

• The development must be carried out in accordance with the specified plans.
• The use of the building and deliveries shall not operate outside the hours of 07:00hrs and 23:00hrs on any day.
• The rating level from all fixed plant and machinery shall not exceed the background noise level at any time.
• The development shall be used for Class E(a) only, and for no other purpose, including any other use falling within Class E, except with the prior grant of a further planning permission.
• The flat roof over the ground floor rear building shall not be used as a veranda, balcony or raised platform.
• The existing two air conditioning units on the front elevation shall be re-located to the rooftop adjacent to the existing air conditioning unit.
• A scheme for the provision of cycle parking must be submitted.
• A scheme for the installation of any external lighting must be submitted.

Decision on Parr Library Extension Delegated

The committee considered an application for a single storey extension to the front, side, and rear of Parr Library, Fleet Lane, following the removal of the existing side extension. The application P/2025/0372/FP3 also included ramp access to the front and rear, external alterations to the building, roof fenestration amendments, solar panels, a 3m high weld mesh fencing to create external enclosures, and additional hardstanding.

The Planning Officer, East presented the application, and the Head of Access & Sufficiency addressed the committee. The committee was referred to a tabled update note which confirmed that Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) had considered the applicant's additional information ecology report Dusk Survey Results.

The committee resolved that the decision to grant planning permission be delegated to the Head of Planning, subject to Highways Advisor, MEAS and the Coal Authority withdrawing their objection to the proposed development and a schedule of the appropriate conditions. The proposed conditions included:

• The works must be begun within 3 years.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the specified plans.
• Samples and / or full specification of materials to be used externally on the building(s) must be submitted.
• A Phase 1 and Phase 2 site investigation and risk assessment must be carried out to investigate potential contamination issues.
• A detailed remediation strategy must be submitted to remove unacceptable risks to all identified receptors from contamination.
• A remediation verification report must be prepared.
• A scheme of intrusive investigations must be carried out on site to establish the risks posed to the development by past shallow coal mining activity, and any remediation works and/or mitigation measures must be implemented.
• A signed statement must be prepared confirming that the site is, or has been made, safe and stable for the approved development.
• Full details of the location, direction, levels of luminance and any shrouding or mitigation measures for any external lighting must be submitted.
• No tree felling, scrub clearance, hedgerow removal and/or vegetation management is to take place during the period 1 March to 31 August inclusive.
• Details of bird boxes must be provided.
• A Reasonable Avoidance Method Statement (RAMs) should be put in place to ensure that there are no adverse effects on hedgehogs.
• A programme of archaeological works should be implemented.
• A Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (the HMMP) must be prepared.
• No machinery, storage of materials or any form of ground disturbance shall be carried out within the Tree Protection Areas of the site during the construction of the development.
• A Landscaping Plan must be submitted.
• The development shall be implemented in accordance with the Conclusions & Recommendations set out in Section 5.0 described in Dusk Survey Results; prepared by Tyrer Ecological Consultants Limited.
• Details of native shrub planting and bat roosting boxes must be provided.

Change of Use Approved at Moss Bank Children's Centre

The committee granted planning permission for a change of use of part of Moss Bank Children's Centre, Kentmere Avenue from a mixed use facility to library use. The application P/2025/0389/FP3 sought to relocate Moss Bank Library and the Police Community Support Office (PCSO) from Bowness Avenue to the council-owned premises at Moss Bank Children's Centre.

The Graduate Planner presented the application, and the Head of Property addressed the committee.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to conditions, including that:

• The works must be begun within 3 years.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the specified plans.
• Prior to first use of the library, the off-site highway works comprising tactile paving across the site access shall be fully implemented.

Other Matters

The committee:

• Noted a report on current planning appeals.
• Noted a report on planning applications determined under delegated powers.
• Noted a report on the enforcement schedule.