Newton-Le-Willows, Plan For Neighbourhoods
St Helens Borough Council (SHBC) has been successful in securing Plan for Neighbourhoods funding for Newton-le-Willows. This funding will see £20m invested in the town, spread over the next 10 years. Formerly known as Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT), Plan for Neighbourhoods funding will enable the delivery of projects that address key issues facing residents and businesses in Newton-le-Willows across eight themes:
Regeneration, High Streets and Heritage
Housing
Work, Productivity and Skills
Cohesion
Health and Wellbeing
Transport
Safety and Security
Education and Opportunity
A Neighbourhood Board of local representatives from the community, local businesses, sports clubs, the third sector, faith groups and public sector agencies was established in Newton-le-Willows to oversee the development and delivery of the Regeneration Plan and 4-Year Investment Plan, as part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. The Neighbourhood Board, alongside the Council, wanted to ensure local people could contribute to the plan and share challenges, opportunities, and ideas for the changes.
Layer.Studio, Hatch Associates, and PLACED supported the Neighbourhood Board and Council in this process by delivering a comprehensive stakeholder and public engagement programme. There have been meetings and workshops with local groups, pop-ups and drop-in events, self-led engagement, and an interactive website where people could share their views.
-
PLACED’s engagement for Newton-le-Willows Plan for Neighbourhoods took place for 6 weeks between Monday 7th April and Sunday 18th May 2025, and included pop-up events, self-led engagement, school workshops, and a dedicated online engagement platform.
With strong support from the Neighbourhood Board, SHBC, local councillors, and representatives from local businesses and community organisations, the consultation reached 60,000 people (this includes website views, promotional materials distributed, and social media impressions).
-
The public engagement delivered as part of Newton-le-Willows Plan for Neighbourhoods provided valuable insights into resident and stakeholder concerns, aspirations, and priorities. Through extensive consultation across online platforms, in-person events, school workshops, and targeted outreach to under-represented groups, local people and stakeholders have highlighted a range of pressing issues, from the regeneration of Earlestown Town Centre to the importance of addressing transport challenges and enhancing youth provision.
Response to the engagement delivered was positive, with residents, business owners and other local stakeholders keen to see projects delivered that regenerate Earlestown Town Centre, increase youth provision and opportunities, and create a safer place to live for all. These aspirations for change, however, coincide with hopes for future funding to preserve and enhance existing assets such as the town’s rich heritage offer and valued community spaces.
PLACED’s public engagement findings, which were published and shared with the public, have helped to shape the Newton-le-Willows Strategic Case for Change and Vision produced by Layer.Studio and Hatch Associates, ultimately informing theNeighbourhood Board’s production of a Regeneration Plan and 4-Year Investment Plan.
“I wanted to thank the PLACED team for their contributions in making this consultation successful. We are really pleased with the response numbers and quality of responses.”