Following the closure of the Hardshaw Shopping Centre, three local firms have now been engaged by main contractor Vinci for enabling works that will support the early stage of the transformation programme.

The regeneration scheme will eventually deliver a new market hall flanked by a mixed-use area that includes a 120-bedroom hotel, 64 new homes and 11,000 sq ft of retail space.

Ayesa has won the contract for the initial site investigation work to help determine the requirements for the building foundations.

Mechanical and electrical contractor A&B Engineering has also joined the team to provide early specialist contractor involvement in the design and installation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, power supply, and water supply.

The third contract awarded has gone to HA Civils who will help deliver the temporary bus hub on Chalon Way West.

The scheme is being brought forward by St Helens Borough Council and ECF, a partnership formed of Homes England, Legal & General and Muse.

On behalf of ECF, Muse senior project manager Chris Bishop said: “From the outset of this landmark scheme the partners have all shared a commitment to see local firms and the wider community benefit.

“We ensured this was a contractual obligation when procuring the main contractor Vinci to deliver phase one of development.

“From our perspective, ECF has decades of experience when it comes to shaping and progressing regeneration programmes so that social value is at the forefront of decision-making. That’s starting to happen now with these early-stage contract awards and will remain a priority throughout.”