Decision

The Council Leader has decided to accept grant funding for land remediation and infrastructure works to facilitate housing development at Sussex Grove, Parr.

Analysis

outcome: Recommendations were approved to accept the grant funding and enter into a Grant Funding Agreement.

summary: The decision involves accepting grant funding of £651,927 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to fund land remediation and small infrastructure works for housing development at Sussex Grove, Parr.

topline: The Council Leader has decided to accept grant funding for land remediation and infrastructure works to facilitate housing development at Sussex Grove, Parr.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves the use of public funds for housing development, which can be a sensitive topic for some stakeholders.

affected_stakeholders: ["Council Leader", "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government", "Local residents of Sussex Grove, Parr"]

contentiousness_score: 5

political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties or political influence on the decision.

URL: https://sthelens.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=199

Decision Maker: Council Leader

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: Seek approval to the acceptance of grant funding of £651,927 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to fund land remediation and small infrastructure works to facilitate housing development at Sussex Grove, Parr.  

Content: Seek approval to the acceptance of grant funding of £651,927 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to fund land remediation and small infrastructure works to facilitate housing development at Sussex Grove, Parr.         I.        Authorise the acceptance of grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of £651,927 to facilitate the delivery of housing at Sussex Grove, Parr; and       II.        Authorise the Section 151 Officer of the Council to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement to facilitate the acceptance of this grant award.   This proposal will secure additional funding for the Council to address land remediation issues and to remove barriers to delivering housing on this local authority owned site.   The Council has previously made two successful bids to the One Public Estate Brownfield Land Release programme, with funding secured for St Helens Town Centre and Evelyn Avenue – with both sites progressing to meet the timescales for delivery required from MHCLG.    The site at Sussex Grove has been vacant for several years due to the existing challenges in relation to site conditions. This funding offers the opportunity to ‘unlock’ this site to enable the development of a residential offer to meet local housing needs. The alternative option would be to decline the funding offer from MHCLG. This would result in a missed opportunity to bring forward a vacant brownfield site for housing development and would result in the current site issues remaining unresolved.  

Date of Decision: January 26, 2026