Long-term vision to determine where redevelopment and regeneration will happen

A new Local Plan for St Helens – which will shape future development in the area – has been earmarked for adoption by summer 2029.

St Helens Council is inviting residents, landowners, businesses and stakeholders to help shape future development in the borough.

This “scoping consultation” forms part of the first stage of the St Helens Local Plan 2026-2044.

Once adopted, the new Local Plan will replace the St Helens Local Plan that was adopted in 2022 and will identify how and where new development and regeneration should take place.

The council highlighted that a new Local Plan is required to respond to changes in national planning policy, national changes in how local housing needs is calculated, and the borough’s “evolving economic, environmental and regeneration priorities”. And failure to have an up-to-date Local Plan can result in “unplanned development” or the transfer of local decision making to central Government.

The initial consultation process is broken down into three parts:

Scoping consultation – The scoping consultation is designed to provide meaningful early engagement in the plan-making process by seeking views from local residents and stakeholders on what the plan should contain and how future engagement should be carried out.

Call for sites – This is an opportunity for landowners, developers, agents, residents, community groups and other key stakeholders to submit sites located within the borough which are considered to have potential for development. Sites can be put forward for any use, including open space.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) scoping report – This report will be published for comment alongside the Local Plan scoping consultation. The SEA process ensures consideration is given to the environment during the development of certain plans and programmes.

Cllr Jack Benyon, portfolio holder for regeneration, property and planning at St Helens Council, said: “We want to hear from as many people as possible during this consultation. As we develop our new Local Plan, local knowledge and feedback will play an important role in shaping policies and ensuring it reflects the needs and ambitions of our communities.

“I would encourage residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders to look at the scoping report and let us know how the Local Plan can respond to future challenges.”

Full details of the consultations are available on the council’s website here Consultations and latest news – St Helens Borough Council, and responses must be submitted by 5pm on October 6, 2026.

A timeline set out by cabinet in June 2026 aims to submit the new plan to central Government in autumn 2028, with the aim for adoption by summer 2029.

Prescot Cables FC says there are concerns over Valerie Park main stand

A Merseyside non-league football club could be forced to relocate as soon as next season after it was revealed its main stand must be rebuilt or replaced within the next three years. Prescot Cables FC, who play in the Northern Premier League West, released a statement on Monday evening revealing how the board of directors may need to consider moving out of the town amid concerns around the sustainability of its main stand at Valerie Park.

The 142-year-old club said any long-term solution is likely to require substantial investment, either to undertake a major refurbishment of the existing structure or, alternatively, to consider a complete rebuild. As a result, Cables are now in discussions with Knowsley Council and the club’s landlord regarding the possibility of relocating from the area it has called home for 116 years.

Knowsley Council has now confirmed to the LDRS the main stand, which envelopes the club house at the ground, will need to be rebuilt or replaced within the next three years as it is “nearing the end of its life.” Cllr Graham Morgan, council leader, said the club has no funding plan in place for required works.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the fan-owned club’s board said it was now faced with “an important decision regarding the future of the stand.” It added: “Given the scale of the challenge, the club is exploring all available options to ensure a sustainable future for Prescot Cables.

“As part of this process, we are in discussions with the local authority and the club’s landlord regarding the possibility of relocating the club to an alternative venue. Such a move could potentially be on a temporary or permanent basis, depending on the options available and the outcome of the discussions.

“While no final decision has been made, it is important that supporters are aware that a relocation could potentially take place as soon as next season.” The club – who sit seventh in the table following their relegation last season – said the directors appreciated the news of a possible move “may raise questions and concerns among our supporters” and any decisions would be made “with the long-term interests and sustainability of Prescot Cables Football Club firmly at heart.”

The board added: “Prescot Cables has a proud history and an important place within the local community. Our priority is to find a solution that allows the club to continue to grow, develop and provide a sustainable future for generations of supporters to come.”

Knowsley Council stepped in to secure the future of Cables in 2018 when it bought the ground for £300,000 from private ownership and granted the club a 99 year lease. Cllr Morgan confirmed talks were underway over the club’s future.

He said: “Since then, we have supported the club in making improvements to Valerie Park and bring the ground up to the standards required by the Football League. This has included providing the club with a loan of £63,000 to enable them to secure funding for £200,000 of ground improvements – via the Premier League Stadium Fund.

“This has funded work at the ground to meet the grading requirements associated with playing Step 3 of the Non-League System. Following a recent independent assessment, it is clear that the main stand is nearing the end of its life.

“Within the next three years it will need replacing/rebuilding at a significant cost and currently the club has no funding plan in place to cover this. We are working closely with the club to support them in identifying funding sources and developing a future plan for Valerie Park.

“While this does regrettably mean some uncertainty in the short term what is absolutely clear is that both the club and the council – and the wider community too – want to see Prescot Cables remain in the town for now, and for generations to come.”

Copper’s record-breaking rally has found fresh fuel, with prices surging to an all-time high of $14,533 per metric ton. The latest leg of the run, which has largely been driven by tariff-related trade flows, is adding to bullish bets that a lack of growth in mine supply could send prices even higher.

Those bets are gaining credibility as a string of disappointing production numbers points to a tightening supply picture. Data from the International Copper Study Group showed global mine output declined 1.1% in the first half of the year, with major producers Codelco and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. both reporting double-digit drops.

Morgan Stanley, which began the year expecting mine supply to expand, now sees production as little changed or slightly lower. That raises the prospect of the first annual decline in mine supply since 2017.

For Indian cable makers such as Polycab India, RR Kabel, KEI Industries, among others, the pressure is coming from another direction too. UltraTech’s Ultravolt entry into the sector and robust target to become the second biggest player therefore potentially comes as a double blow for listed incumbents.

Will listed wire and cable players feel the heat?

The companies have started passing higher input costs through to customers. Polycab India during its Q4 earnings call said it has taken approximately 18% to 19% price hike cumulatively from January to March after a sharp rise in copper prices. RR Kabel has also announced increases, although it has so far kept the hikes on hold.

The recent price hikes reflect concerns over rising copper costs and the ability of companies to pass on higher input costs without affecting demand. RR Kabel has announced hikes of 2% to 3.5%, although its implementation is currently on hold, media reports stated.
Domestic brokerage JM Financial said it was raising three key questions on the Indian cables and wires industry and adopting a cautious approach. The first is whether C&W growth is peaking. After a strong growth rally, the brokerage said it is time to question the absence of volume growth and recognise that with elevated copper prices as the base starting late third quarter or Q4 FY27, revenue growth could look weaker over the next 12 months.The second question is whether the Street is underestimating new competition. UltraTech and Diamond Power by FY29E could cumulatively command more than 12% market share, a scale that may not be ignored, with Crompton and Bajaj adding to the competitive landscape.

“While market share losses for incumbents can be debated given that the industry comprises around 20% unorganised players, margin risk remains due to the likelihood of disrupted pricing discipline.”

The third question is whether valuations leave room for a dip in growth. JM Financial said looking at a longer time frame is crucial to appreciate changes in valuation across different phases. Today, C&W names are trading at a 4-5% premium to their 5-year average P/E multiple and around 25% above their long-term average P/E multiple.

Japanese brokerage Nomura echoes the view, stating that any moderation in industry volume growth following a sharp increase in copper prices remains another headwind.

However, Motilal Oswal said that for Ultravolt, copper will be available near the plant, within a 100km range, and UTCEM will be able to manage working capital well. It will be able to operate this business with negative working capital, similar to its cement operations.

Wire stocks selloff triggered

UltraTech’s entry into the wires and cables business has already triggered a sharp selloff in listed players, wiping out about Rs 21,500 crore in market value in just two trading sessions.

Polycab India suffered the biggest rupee erosion, with Rs 8,766 crore wiped off its market capitalisation in two days. KEI Industries followed with a Rs 5,158 crore decline, while Havells India, RR Kabel, APAR Industries and Finolex Cables lost a combined Rs 7,501 crore.

The selloff reflects growing investor concern that UltraTech’s Rs 1,800-crore Ultravolt investment could intensify competition, put pressure on margins and force established cable makers to spend more on distribution, advertising and electrician engagement.

“Competition in the Indian C&W space is clearly intensifying,” JM Financial said in a report, adding that the possibility of a “sector-wide derating” could not be ruled out.

Ultravolt entry

UltraTech has started commercial production at its Jhagadia facility in Gujarat earlier than initially expected and launched Ultravolt under the Aditya Birla Group. The company has begun with an installed capacity of about 1.1 million kilometres, focused on house wires and light duty cables. Its initial portfolio includes home wires, flexible and submersible cables, solar cables, communication cables and select power and industrial cables.

UltraTech plans to distribute these products across more than 500 districts and 6,000 pin codes, while targeting more than 100,000 retailers. It is also leveraging more than 5,000 UltraTech Building Solutions outlets and has onboarded over 1,600 electricians ahead of the launch.

The company has said it aims to become one of the top two wires and cables players within five years. Its eventual capacity could rise to 3.5-4 million kilometres.

Nomura estimates that UltraTech could capture around 6%-7% of the organised wires and cables market by fiscal 2030, assuming strong industry demand and asset turnover of 5-6 times.

Copper outlook

Last week, benchmark LME prices were headed for a 10th consecutive weekly gain, the longest such stretch since 1994.

Citigroup Inc. analyst Tom Mulqueen forecasts copper at $15,000 a ton by year-end, with the potential to reach about $17,000 if manufacturing recovers or demand from the energy transition, data centers or strategic stockpiling proves stronger than expected, a Bloomberg report said. He plays down the threat from the vast US inventory buildup, arguing that even without tariffs, those stockpiles are likely to unwind gradually rather than flood back onto the global market.

With demand set to outpace supply growth in the coming years, prices are likely to remain elevated, according to Anglo American Plc Chief Operating Officer Ruben Fernandes.

“Everyone is investing in copper, everyone likes copper,” he said in an interview last week. “Supply will come, but the question is how quickly.”

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

PVR Inox announced that its Rs 300-crore share buyback will open on Thursday, September 10, and close next week on September 17, as India’s biggest film exhibitor aims to buy back nearly 21 lakh shares from eligible shareholders at Rs 1,450 per share, which is more than 25% higher than the market price.

The record date for the buyback was fixed on Friday. This means only those shareholders who owned shares of the company on that day would be eligible to tender shares in the offer, and investors taking fresh positions today will not qualify.

Also Read | PVR INOX says preliminary probe found no evidence of kickbacks, disputes account of senior executive’s exit

Key things to know about PVR Inox’s buyback

Under PVR Inox’s buyback offer, eligible shareholders in the reserved category for small shareholders are entitled to tender 9 equity shares for every 157 equity shares held as on the record date (September 4). For shareholders falling under the general category, the buyback entitlement has been fixed at 21 equity shares for every 1,108 equity shares held on the record date.
Buyback of shares refers to a corporate action where a company repurchases its own shares from the existing shareholders. Usually, the company purchases the shares at a higher price than the current levels, encouraging investors to participate. Notably, PVR Inox has said that its promoters and promoter groups have indicated their intention to participate in the buyback. They can tender a maximum of 5.69 lakh shares.

How can you participate in PVR Inox’s buyback?

PVR Inox shareholders may choose to participate, in full or in part, and receive cash on behalf of the shares they tender and get accepted in the buyback process. They can place a bid through a stock broker registered with the BSE via a separate window that will open up on the stock exchange. The registrar will complete the verification of tendered shares by September 21. Thereafter, the final acceptance or rejection of shares tendered under the buyback will be communicated to the stock exchanges by September 23. The payment will be made to the eligible shareholders by September 24.
After the buyback, PVR Inox will return the unaccepted shares by September 24, as per the schedule shared by the company in its exchange filing.Also Read | PVR INOX’s Marriott moment: How a theatre giant is rewriting the cinema playbook in India with a new-age expansion model

PVR Inox share price

PVR Inox shares sharply rallied more than 7% on Tuesday to trade at Rs 1,243 apiece on NSE. The stock has jumped 22% in 2026 so far and 11% in one year.

In the longer term, PVR Inox shares delivered negative returns of more than 33% in three years and 8.5% in five years.

Disclosure: “This article has been written by Debaroti Adhikary, who is not a Sebi-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Debaroti Adhikary and her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective Sebi-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The EconomicTimes Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment.”

A day can be the most incredible — all you need is energy, an inquisitive mind, a sense of camaraderie and a desire to try something different. This is how underneath and reflected the lifestyle of the case in hands Arina from Denver appears. She enjoys fitness, nature, travel, fashion, dining with friends, parties and entertainment. She likes to exercise but also she makes time for relaxing and socializing. Arina doesn’t let the monotony of her everyday lives pull her down; she finds little ways to spice up her day. Her lifestyle is a very interesting perspective of Arina Life in the USA.

Starting the Day with Energy

A good morning sets a tone for the whole day. Arina likes to make fitness part of her life by working out, walking, stretching or anything that helps to keep her active.

Fitness is more than a routine to her. It could also be a tool to declutter her mind and feel ready for whatever comes next. It gives her the energy she needs for whatever follows (from outside to meeting friends), and choosing movement first thing in the morning leaves space to nourish all kinds of magic.

The routine stays flexible so she can partake in different activities, but not live by the same exact schedule every day.

Making Time for Nature

Nature Gifts Us Arina Comes with An To Relax And Explore from Denver She loves spending time outside — and soaking in the sights. Not only can a peaceful walk help her to clear her mind, but it allows for exploring somewhere new, invoking the adventurer instinct inside of her.

Those outdoor moments are usually plain and ordinary, but they become memorable because of the experience that goes with it. Going out with friends during a period, discovering an interesting location or the picturesque sights could convert inner strength from an ordinary afternoon into extraordinary one.

The use of nature in its work also reveals her love for travel and exploration.

Travel Brings Fresh Experiences

Travel is essential for Arina Life in the USA. Arina also loves his experience of getting to new places because they break the routine. Traveling to different places gives her the opportunity to try new food, see new sights and participate in various activities and experiences.

And I do enjoy the freedom of going somewhere where I am no one. The meticulously planned all-day excursion may be thrilling but so is the unexpected detour. A new restaurant, a surprise stop or an on-the-fly change of plan can make some of the best memories.

Travel is an experience for Arina, not just a destination.

Fashion Adds Personality

Another hobby that brings creativity to Arina’s everyday life is fashion. She loves picking outfits that fit into her plans, and into what she’s feeling. Comfortable styles may be perfect for exercise or nature outing, and dinners, gatherings and entertainment occasions present moments to wear more elegant looks.

The way she dresses is a form of expression, self-confidence. She is excited to get ready for a night out and especially when she knows she will be getting together with friends or going somewhere exciting; the getting ready process just adds to it all.

It makes her life, which is already busy and sociable, that little bit more creative.

Friends, Dining, and Social Moments

A strong aspect of Arina is her social life, it has an influence on the fun experiences. She like to eat with friends — food brings people together and offers the chance to unwind, chat and laugh.

The best theoretical simple dinner does not always end up being simple. Conversations can keep flowing well beyond the meal and spontaneous plans might spontaneously involve some form of entertainment or a night out. Arina likes these moments because they help her feel connected and lacking the same routine everyday.

They also enable her to celebrate and enjoy parties, music, entertainment, and social events. In the presence of good friends, an otherwise average evening can become a memory not worth forgetting.

The Spirit of The Unicorn USA

The idea of The Unicorn USA encapsulates uniqueness, finds adventure in exploration, and revels in non-stereotypical experiences. And Arina’s way of life represents this attitude because she explores many pursuits.

Her schedule has a huge area reserved for fitness, nature, travel, fashion, dining, party and entertainment. She can enjoy a quiet afternoon without sacrificing an exciting evening. She can appreciate both.

This variety keeps her lifestyle exciting and provides the flexibility to choose how each day is like.

Turning Everyday Life into Memories

What really sets Arina from Denver apart from the rest is her capacity to have fun with mundane activities. Workout may become a cheerful morning, an outdoor walk might turn into a tiny adventure, dinner with friends could be a refreshing night.

Through her life in the USA with Arina Life, she shows that you don’t necessarily need extraordinary plans to have lasting memories. But often, the simplest of things can be made special simply because of those involved and the mindset brought to them.

All in all, Arina leads a busy social life and is quite an adventurous one. Fitness keeps her active–Nature brings peace–Travel, wonder–Fashion, expression tap the waters of Gold badges from Dining and Social vice grip up with value clicks. Excitement comes in the form of parties and fun, but spontaneous plans make for unpredictability during her days.

The outcome makes for a life where simple days abound with possibility. Through her creativity, curiosity, sociability and thirst for adventure — Arina from Denver makes the dull and seemingly mundane memorable. This is also her way of expressing the uniqueness and hopefulness that The Unicorn USA embodies but with a new lens of joyous living in America.