Merseyside Police’s application proposing the erection of a single-storey police station along with an enclosed car park, cycle storage and security fencing – at the site of the existing police car park, on Peel Street – will come before St Helens Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.
The committee is recommended to delegate to the head of planning services to approve the application, subject to the finalisation of planning conditions.
According to a report to the committee, the site is situated within Earlestown town centre and is currently used as a car park facility for the existing police station, which is situated to the east further along Market Street. The existing car park provides spaces for approximately 25 vehicles.
“The development proposes the erection of a new single-storey police station building along with an enclosed car park, cycle storage and security fencing,” says the report.
“The new building would be accessed via Market Street and would sit on the site in an L shaped format.
“The building would be constructed in a mixture of materials, including brickwork and render, which would give the development a modern and clean appearance.
“In terms of scale, the development would have an overall height of 7.6m, the width of the building at the widest point facing Market Street would be 18.8m, and the depth would be 15.8m.
“Vehicular access to the site would be from Peel Street, where there is provision for eight car parking spaces, which includes two spaces with electric charging capability and one disabled persons parking space.”
Furthermore, in the report, it says the development would be a replacement for the existing police station building and the proposal is to “update the current facilities to ensure they continue to be fit for purpose for public protection”.
It adds that the development would not involve the loss of any retail facilities within the defined town centre boundary of Earlestown and would have a “neutral impact on the function and role” of Earlestown town centre, while there would be “no impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre or any planned investment in the area”.