Construction of link road completed – but can’t open to traffic yet

It was initially estimated to finish in late 2023, before being pushed back to spring this year.

And it has now been confirmed that the construction of the road – which is being funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – was completed in recent weeks.

A St Helens Council spokesperson said: “The now completed Parkside Link Road is a significant part of the £58 million major infrastructure improvements being made in advance of the development of Parkside, designed to take commercial traffic away from the A49 by making best use of the site’s proximity to the M6.

“Before the road can be opened to traffic, we must meet the planning permission conditions, including the improvement of other traffic junctions in the area.

“Residents and road users will be aware that the first two junction improvements – A49 Mill Lane/A572 Southworth Road and A572 Southworth Road/A573 Parkside Road – are now complete, while Junction 22 of the M6 is ongoing and is scheduled to complete by spring 2025.

“We are committed to improving infrastructure that supports the development of the site, with the help of considerable funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

“The council has contributed £6.2 million from capital receipts and is confident the project will be delivered on time and within budget.

“Importantly, Parkside Link Road will be open before the site’s first industrial unit.”

Speaking during the leader’s announcements in the full council meeting last month, St Helens Council leader Cllr Anthony Burns said “great progress is being made” on the regeneration of Parkside Colliery in Newton-le-Willows.

Parkside Regeneration is the joint venture company tasked with delivering the redevelopment of Parkside Colliery.

It is a joint venture between St Helens Council and Langtree and will see up to 2.6m square feet of logistics and advanced manufacturing space developed on the former colliery site.