Planning applications have been submitted today, after four years of hard work by St Helens Council, St Helens Rugby League Club, landowner and developer, Langtree Group plc, retailer Tesco and housebuilder Taylor Woodrow to transform St Helens town.
The derelict 46-acre United Glass site in St Helens will become an 18,000 capacity stadium, with a mix of seating and standing, for St Helens Rugby League Club and a multi-million pound Tesco Extra. The town’s current Tesco outlet on Chalon Way will then be redeveloped into alternative retail outlets, which will further rejuvenate the town centre. As part of a separate plan, a high quality residential area built by Taylor Woodrow, will replace Knowsley Road, which has been Saints’ home for 116 years.
All three proposals are subject to planning permission, and if approved St Helens Rugby League Club is likely to play its first game in the new stadium in the 2010 season.
Saints’ chairman Eamonn McManus commented: “A new stadium will give fans a far more enjoyable match-day experience and will allow the club to expand its community and youth development activity. It will also play a key role in helping us to continue to attract world-class rugby league players to St Helens.”
Langtree’s managing director John Downes said: “Langtree is proud to be playing such an integral role in the development of a new stadium and in the regeneration of the former United Glass site and St Helens town. The planning application is the product of a lot of hard work over the last few years by everyone involved and the result will be a fantastic new development on the former United Glass site with the new Saints Stadium as its centerpiece.”
St. Helens Council Leader Brian Spencer said: "The proposed development will bring a range of benefits, not just to our own Borough but to the region in general, bringing massive investment and jobs. It also means that we are further down the road of seeing a new stadium fit for a club of this world class stature."
Councillor Marie Rimmer, Labour Group Leader added: "I am delighted that after years of working closely with the club that this project has now come to fruition. The club’s outstanding success and the support of its loyal fans are now going to be rewarded with a five star stadium, befitting a world class Rugby League Team."
Councillor Wally Ashcroft, Conservative Group Leader said: "As well as the move towards a new stadium with all the associated benefits, the complex will be a terrific boost, not just for Saints' fans, but for all the young people interested in rugby and sport in general. As the club does so many community projects, this new stadium will be a major boost for everyone."
Dave Watts MP for St. Helens North said: "The people of St. Helens are rightly proud of their rugby league club, which is well on the way to getting a world class stadium for the players and fans while bringing a regeneration boost to the town. I am sure the club and developers will deliver a stadium, which will set the scene for even further success.
St. Helens South MP Shaun Woodward added: “This is a landmark project which signals to everyone that St. Helens is a 21st century town. There is no better sign of the success of regeneration than by giving one of the world’s greatest rugby league teams a world class facility.”
A public exhibition will be taking place in St Helens Town Hall from Monday 2nd July until Monday 23rd July 2007, to enable visitors to see the exciting new plans, first hand. More details of the exhibition are available at www.sthelensstadium.com
