10 IN VIEW
£150m REGENERATION MASTERPLAN REVEALED
The next phase of the ambitious green regeneration vision for Skelmersdale has been unveiled.
The £150m masterplan will focus on sustainability, economic growth and transforming the town centre
The document details the next phase of the ongoing regeneration of Skelmersdale and West Lancashire council says it will build on the progress already made in transforming the town centre.
It will be project managed by Tawd Valley Developments and devised by Tetra Tech and Lambert Smith Hampton. It is being commissioned by West Lancashire, with Lancashire County Council.
West Lancashire launched a public consultation exercise at the end of October, saying: “The masterplan builds on the success of the first phase of the Skelmersdale town centre regeneration, which has already delivered significant improvements including the construction of a new retail hub and enhanced public spaces.
“By using a combination of public and private finance, and collaboration with local stakeholders and development partners, the council will continue to further enhance Skelmersdale as a vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving community, with the masterplan acting as the ‘roadmap’ for the plans.
Melissa Parlour, the council’s lead member for economic regeneration and green growth, added: “The £150m Skelmersdale Masterplan is focused on sustainability and will make the town one of the greenest in the UK.”
“It prioritises boosting economic activity by connecting education with employment opportunities, tackling local unemployment issues and boosting business opportunities.”
SHAPING LANCASHIRE’S FUTURE: GROWTH, INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION
At Lancashire County Council, we are driving transformation that is reshaping our region.
As director of growth and regeneration, I have the privilege of overseeing key projects that will define Lancashire’s economic future— projects like the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone and Lancashire Central. Each initiative represents a building block in our broader mission: driving sustainable economic growth, enhancing the business environment, and improving the quality of life for our residents.
But the real story behind these projects is more than just their physical impact. Our work is about creating a foundation for long-term prosperity. We’re not just delivering infrastructure; we’re building an economy where innovation, investment, and opportunity can flourish. Lancashire County Council’s role is to ensure that businesses have the resources and environment they need to grow, and that our communities are thriving alongside them.
Through initiatives like Boost, Lancashire’s Growth Hub, and the Rosebud Fund, we
It will allow us to streamline decision-making and better align resources to support strategic economic development and grow our economy.
By Simon Lawrence, director of growth and regeneration, Lancashire County Council
empower companies to innovate, scale, and compete nationally and globally. The Lancashire Skills Hub collaborates with businesses and educational institutions to develop a skilled, adaptable workforce, preparing residents for future jobs.
The county’s ambition extends beyond development programmes, demonstrated by the creation of the Lancashire Combined County Authority, which is due to launch in the spring. This new body will bring together local leadership to provide a united vision and address regional challenges more effectively.
lancashire.gov.uk
Central to this effort is collaboration with business. The newly formed, independent Lancashire Business Board, made up of leaders from across the county’s key sectors, will feed directly into the Combined County Authority. Their insights and expertise will help shape the decisions that drive our economy forward, ensuring that the business community remains at the heart of our plans for growth.
Looking ahead, events like the Lancashire Festival of Business in January and the Convention of the North, which Lancashire will host at UCLan in February, will be crucial in fostering dialogue, collaboration, and showcasing the innovation that exists within our region.
The time is now for Lancashire to seize its opportunities. By working together, we can drive the region’s growth and secure its future success.
Key components include revitalising the town centre through “significant” commercial and residential development. It also involves the creation of a business incubator which will help local entrepreneurs start and grow their own businesses.
The Tawd Valley greenspace will receive extensive environmental improvements, transforming it into a key recreational area for the community, with a new visitor centre and a revitalised Town Park.
There are also plans to refurbish the town’s amphitheatre and provide a modernised, improved library that will “enhance cultural engagement”.
Street level improvements to the Concourse Shopping Centre will upgrade the area’s overall aesthetic and accessibility, encouraging more visitors.
The plan also includes redevelopment of the Glenburn site, with the construction of around 400 new homes and allocates space for the possible future addition of a rail station on the former college site.
Mark Kitts, managing director at Tawd Valley Developments, said: “The vast majority of funding for the proposed masterplan will be from the private sector.
“It is expected that some of the projects proposed such as the visitor centre, business incubator and train station will require funding from central government and that some of the affordable housing, roads and infrastructure will require funding support from the government’s home building and regeneration agency Homes England.”
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