Businesses and landowners urged to shape new Local Plan in St Helens

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.