New plans for a mixed-use St Helens town centre scheme incorporating the borough’s first rooftop terrace have been submitted.
The 11,500 sq ft outdoor space will top Luxor Group’s proposed Nicholson Plaza and Nicholson Place development, offering landscaped gardens and panoramic views.
If approved by St Helens Council the project will transform Barrow House on the corner of Claughton Street and Barrow Street, which was purchased by Luxor Group towards the end of 2018.
Phase A of the development would be known as Nicholson Plaza and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2019, creating 12 one-bedroom apartments within the town’s professional quarter.
Phase B, to be known as Nicholson Place and comprising 14 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom homes, is then earmarked for completion during early 2020.
The apartments and roof terrace, which are the subject of the latest planning application, will be accompanied by basement and ground floor commercial space at the site, which has already been fully let by MD Productions, The Dean Champagne Bar and Restaurant and Laguna Tanning.
Paul Nicholson, CEO of Luxor Group which is also behind the adjacent Nicholson House development, says: “We’re pleased to submit our ambitious plans for Barrow House. This building has a lot of potential which we are keen to unleash.
“The success of Nicholson Lofts and Nicholson House and the continued demand for our product has fuelled our ambition for town centre development and we are looking to fulfil this gap in the market.
“We are in discussions to secure other buildings to fulfil our project pipeline and hope that our future plans can come to fruition through our aggressive acquisition programme.
“St Helens Council has been supportive with all of our developments so far and we hope with its backing, we can deliver both of the schemes on time. There is a variety of investment coming into St Helens which is giving it a great buzz and will change the landscape of the local economy for the better.
“We have already secured tenants for all of the commercial units at this mixed-use scheme, which shows there is confidence in the town centre for fellow entrepreneurs to invest. We are determined for St Helens’ high street to flourish and providing some much needed footfall in the town centre can only be a positive step.”
Luxor Group has also applied to change the use of Unit 4 at its Nicholson House site to make way for the residents’ concierge desk, giving the developer a physical high street presence in St Helens.
The unit was previously part of Keith Park Solicitors, which occupies Unit 3.