Work is well underway to deliver significant improvements in Halewood as part of a combined £30million investment in the town.
Earlier this year Knowsley Council secured £15.3m from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to complement and enhance the significant package of investment already taking place in Halewood.
Investment
The £15.3 million Levelling Up funding will be used to facilitate an expansion of Halewood’s district centre offer, improve greenspaces and leisure facilities, enhance sporting facilities, deliver improvements to Halewood Leisure Centre including work on decarbonisation, as well as funding improvements to walking and cycling connectivity throughout the town and to employment areas.
In addition to this, Knowsley Council has secured around £13m in Section 106 contributions from developers delivering the East of Halewood housing development. This investment is already being ploughed into improved services and facilities in Halewood.
A further £2.5m has also been secured from the City Region Sustainable Travel Settlement for additional highways improvement works.
Additional school places
Knowsley Council has secured £4.6m in S106 developer contributions to increase the number of early years and primary school places in Halewood. This includes a £3.7m investment in Plantation Primary School in Hollies Road that will enable the school to accommodate three classes per year, phased from 2023.
As a result of the investment the school will benefit from extension and improvement work to classrooms, the main hall, main entrance and disabled access. Construction of the extension of the school commenced in July 2023.
Early years places
Working with local providers, Knowsley Council has so far been able to secure 39 additional early years places in Halewood as a result of funding secured from developer S106 contributions. This will increase the local provision for families in the area. Nursery places at New Hutte Children and Family Hub will be re-established and expanded, providing 62 early years places in the area. You can find more information here.
Highways, cycling and pedestrian improvements
Junction improvements have now been completed on Old Hutte Lane. The new signal installation will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Carriageway resurfacing and drainage improvements have also been completed.
Traffic calming works on Greensbridge Lane, including the installation of new speed cushions, gateway chicanes and a reduction from a 40mph to a 30mph speed limit, has now been completed subject to the electrical installation.
You can find out more about highways improvements here.
Residents will have the opportunity to share their views on a proposed 2km segregated cycleway along Higher Road as part of a public consultation later this year. The proposals also include new pedestrian facilities and junction upgrades around Baileys Lane and Finch Lane, providing additional highway capacity.
Affordable housing
The East of Halewood housing development will deliver circa 1300 new homes with 1,237 having already secured planning permission, of these approximately 23% are classed as affordable properties. Currently, 269 new homes have been completed across the development, including 55 new affordable homes.
Green space improvements
Finch Woods will be transformed into a top-quality local parkland space, increasing in size by approximately 50%, as a result of around £1m investment. Improvements will include the establishment of an extensive network of accessible paths and walkways and the creation of a new play facility for the area. There will also be major habitat improvement works to the woodlands, ponds and meadowlands, as well as the creation of a new pond and wetland features that will support flood resilience in the area. Preliminary works commenced on site this year and further woodland management works will continue this forthcoming winter in preparation for the improvements.
Business
The investment is already attracting new businesses to Halewood, including new Mediterranean restaurant Casa Rima, which opened its doors at the end of September 2023.
The process to appoint a provider to operate a new community café in Halewood near to the Environment Centre is also ongoing.
In addition to improved green spaces and sporting provision, Levelling Up funding will help facilitate an expansion of the town centre.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “These are really exciting times for Halewood. The investment in the town will improve green space, enhance sport and leisure facilities and make it easier to get around by bike or on foot. Halewood will become greener, cleaner and more accessible and a more attractive place for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
A masterplan for Halewood, incorporating feedback from last year’s public consultation, is currently being developed and will be shared with Halewood residents, businesses and visitors early in the New Year for their views.