Purpose

This report seeks urgent
consideration in respect to changes to the financial appraisal of
Phase 1A of the St Helens Town Centre and seeks approval to amend
the contract sum and the grant agreement to ECF. The report also
seeks approval to transfer land on a freehold basis to ECF to
facilitate the residential element of the scheme.
 

Decision

(1) 
Approval of the revised financial appraisal for the St Helens Town
Centre Regeneration and associated Phase Contract value of
£71,855,733 for the main works, which represents a change of
£2,130,000 from the value reported to Cabinet on 19 November
2025.;
(2) 
 Approval of the grant funding agreement
of £14,751,604 (contained within the above contract value) to
ECF with respect to the delivery of the residential component of
the Phase 1A programme; and
(3) 
Approval of the transfer of the freehold and permission provided to
enter a deed of surrender of part of the leasehold interest of the
residential development on completion of the St Helens Town Centre
Phase 1A main contract and approval to execute the freehold
transfer and the deed of surrender of part.
 

Alternative options considered

To delay a decision to the February 2026
Cabinet meeting, this would result in a significant cost escalation
adding significant financial pressure and increased risk to the
delivery programme.