Tawd Valley Developments has unveiled a masterplan for the £150m redevelopment of Skelmersdale town centre.
Devised by Tetra Tech and Lambert Smith Hampton, and commissioned by West Lancs Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, the masterplan for the 75-acre site envisages 550,000 sq ft of new build space, including around 600 new homes, new leisure and cultural facilities and 28,000 sq ft of commercial development. The ambitious proposals also include the development of a new railway station for the town.
As well as the two local authorities, the other key landowner is LCP (part of the MCore Group), which owns the existing Concourse Shopping Centre in the town, part of which is incorporated into the wider masterplan.
Tawd Valley Developments, the housing and commercial developer owned by West Lancs Borough Council, has been tasked with supporting the masterplan’s delivery.
Mark Kitts, managing director of Tawd Valley Developments, said: “The original plans for Skelmersdale envisaged a town of 80,000 people, but only about half that figure was delivered. Our proposals will boost the town’s population whilst providing it with a modern and attractive town centre that will, of itself, encourage additional residents to move to the area.
“The response [to the plans] so far has been very encouraging. Developers can see the town’s positive trajectory in terms of employment, new commercial occupiers and housing improvement and believe there’s a role for them to take Skelmersdale to the next level. We want to put our thinking to the test with people who understand the market dynamics of town centres and the funding opportunities that go with them.”
Yvonne Gagen, leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, added: “Our plan marks an exciting new chapter for Skelmersdale. By focusing on sustainability, economic growth, and wellbeing, we’re creating a greener, more vibrant town and building a better life for our communities. This ambitious but achievable transformation will have a clear path for progress and funding and will bring real benefits to residents and businesses, and we’re excited to work together to shape and deliver Skelmersdale’s future.”
A public consultation on the plans kicked off earlier this week and finishes on 25 November.
