• West Lancashire Borough Council is launching a consultation for the next phase of its regeneration of Skelmersdale,  
• The Skelmersdale Masterplan will focus on sustainability, economic growth and transforming the town centre 
• The plan aims to improve health, wellbeing and accessibility, with public consultations set for October and November to gather community feedback 

West Lancashire Borough Council is launching a consultation on a new Skelmersdale Masterplan.  
The plan details the next phase of the ongoing regeneration of Skelmersdale and will build on the progress already made in transforming the town centre. 

A vote by members at a meeting of Full Council gave the green light for a consultation to be launched to gather feedback from residents and partners on the proposals. This consultation will ensure that community voices continue to shape Skelmersdale's future. 

The public are now being asked for their views on the Masterplan. The plan will be project managed by Tawd Valley Developments and devised by Tetra Tech and Lambert Smith Hampton. It is being commissioned by West Lancashire Borough Council, with Lancashire County Council.   

The Masterplan builds upon the success of the first phase of the Skelmersdale town centre regeneration, which has already delivered significant improvements including the construction of a new retail hub and enhanced public spaces.  By using a combination of public and private finance, and collaboration with local stakeholders and development partners, the Council will continue to further enhance Skelmersdale as a vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving community, with the Masterplan acting as the ‘roadmap’ for the plans. 
Councillor Melissa Parlour, lead member for Economic Regeneration and Green Growth, said: “This next phase of our regeneration plans represents a major opportunity for Skelmersdale.  

“The £150m Skelmersdale Masterplan is focussed on sustainability and will make the town one of the greenest in the UK.  

“It prioritises boosting economic activity by connecting education with employment opportunities, tackling local unemployment issues and boosting business opportunities. 

“The project will transform the town centre, enhance health and wellbeing, particularly for young people, while improving safety, accessibility and public spaces through upgraded recreational areas.” 

Key components of the regeneration plan include: 

Revitalising the Town Centre: The core of the plan involves significant commercial and residential development. This includes new food and beverage uses and incorporates the new Wellbeing & Leisure Hub, improvements to the western entrance to the Concourse and the bus station, the creation of a business incubator which will help local entrepreneurs start and grow their own businesses and new housing. 

Environmental enhancement in Tawd Valley: The Tawd Valley greenspace will receive extensive environmental improvements, transforming it into a key recreational area for the community, with a new visitor centre and a revitalised Town Park. 

Cultural and community projects: Plans to refurbish the town's amphitheatre and provide a modernised, improved library will enhance cultural engagement. Street level improvements to the Concourse Shopping Centre will upgrade the area’s overall aesthetic and accessibility, encouraging more visitors. 

Glenburn site redevelopment: The plan includes the construction of around 400 new homes and allocates space for the possible future addition of a rail station on the former college site to improve connectivity to elsewhere in the region. A new footbridge is also being proposed, improving access to and from the town centre.   

The concept for Skelmersdale is a collaborative effort between the Council, commercial developers, residents and funding bodies. Public consultations will be held in October and November to gather feedback and ensure that the vision reflects the community's needs and aspirations. 

Councillor Yvonne Gagen, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council said: "We’ve already achieved so much with the first phase of the town centre regeneration. Now we are moving forward strongly with the next stage of the Masterplan. By focusing on sustainability, economic growth, and wellbeing, we can create a greener, more vibrant town and build a better life for our communities.  

"This ambitious but achievable transformation will have a clear path for progress and funding. It will bring real benefits to residents and businesses and we’re looking forward to working together to shape and deliver Skelmersdale’s future." 

This Masterplan is designed not only to revitalise the local economy but to significantly improve quality of life by enhancing public spaces, housing and transport.The draft Masterplan has been funded through Lancashire County Council's Lancashire Economic Recovery and Growth (LERG) fund. The County Council also own part of the site allocated in the Masterplan for housing and a potential rail station.   

Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for Economic Development at Lancashire County Council, said: "Supporting economic growth across Lancashire is a key priority for the county council.  

"The Skelmersdale Town Centre Regeneration Plan, which is part-funded through our Lancashire Economic Recovery and Growth fund, will help to unlock Skelmersdale's economic potential. 

"The Masterplan also includes the county council-owned former Glenburn / Skelmersdale College site, which could deliver hundreds of new homes and provide a major boost to the town's economy. 

"I would encourage residents to share their views on the Masterplan when the consultation begins." 

Mark Kitts, Managing Director at Tawd Valley Developments said: “The vast majority of funding for the proposed masterplan will be from the private sector.  It is expected that some of the projects proposed such as the Visitor Centre, Business Incubator and Train Station will require funding from central Government and that some of the affordable housing, roads and infrastructure will require funding support from the Government’s home building and regeneration agency Homes England.” 

Following consultation and ultimately approval of the Masterplan, discussions with potential partners will begin to take place. 

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