Full planning permission has been secured for a state-of-the-art employment development at the St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus.

St Helens Borough Council last night (7 October) granted planning consent for Project Halo, a landmark life sciences and advanced manufacturing development that will deliver 85,000 sq. ft of high spec workspace across four cutting edge ‘Tech Box’ units.

Designed to attract R&D-led occupiers, modern manufacturers, and science-based businesses, the scheme is set to become one of the North West’s most strategically significant growth locations. The units will offer adaptable layouts to accommodate bespoke office, laboratory, and light production requirements, with use classes B2 (advanced manufacturing), B8 (storage/distribution), and E(g) (research & development, professional services, and ancillary offices).

Led by St Helens Borough Council and delivered by Network Space, the scheme is set across a five-acre brownfield site off Roby Way, adjacent to the award-winning Glass Futures Centre of Excellence and SINA Medical. The site has already undergone extensive enabling works, including ground remediation, re-profiling, and construction of a new estate road and roundabout arm, ensuring excellent connectivity and “development-ready” status.

The scheme forms a key part of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone, supporting the region’s ambition to create high-value jobs, unlock innovation, and attract inward investment. Future occupiers will benefit from a range of fiscal incentives, including:

  • Full Stamp Duty Land Tax relief on land and buildings purchased for commercial use
  • 100% business rates relief for five years on newly occupied premises for qualifying businesses in the Life Science sector
  • Enhanced Capital Allowances (100% first-year allowance for qualifying plant and machinery)
  • Structures and Buildings Allowance with accelerated relief of 10% per year
  • Employer National Insurance Contributions Relief for employees spending at least 60% of their time in the Zone (relating to salaries up to £25,000 per year, worth £3,000 per year for up to 3 years)

The development is also expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs and strengthen supply chains for life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and R&D businesses in St Helens borough and the wider North West.

Project Halo is targeting BREEAM Outstanding accreditation and will include all-electric air source heat pumps and photovoltaic roof panels to minimise operational energy; electric vehicle charging infrastructure and secure cycle parking, all within a landscaped, campus-style environment to promote wellbeing and collaboration.

Network Space was appointed by St Helens Borough Council as development manager for the site in 2023 following the council’s acquisition of the land, supported by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The company had previously collaborated with the council to deliver the award-winning £54 million Glass Futures project which opened in the same year.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at St Helens Borough Council, said: “It is fantastic to see planning permission granted for project HALO. As a borough we are positioning ourselves as a growing hub for the life sciences sector and this marks another key milestone in the provision of world class facilities for innovative businesses. Ambitious developments such as this offer real opportunities for the residents of our borough bringing high value jobs and apprenticeships right in the heart of St Helens. It is a clear sign of our commitment to delivering sustainable growth for our communities now and for generations to come.”

Joe Burnett, Development Director at Network Space, said: “We’re delighted to have secured planning for Project Halo to deliver high-quality, flexible workspace that addresses the productivity gap in the manufacturing and science sectors. Its proximity to Glass Futures and other innovation-led sectors will allow businesses to tap into an already-established system for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and sustainable growth.

He added: “St Helens Borough Council is delivering one of the most ambitious regeneration strategies in the North West, strengthening the town’s reputation for innovation whilst creating high quality employment and supply chain opportunities for the region.”

Support for the Halo Project has been provided by Architects AEW, GWB Consultants, Stantec, Kaizen Consulting Engineers and Spawforths.  St Helens Council was supported by IMT Consulting.

Construction is anticipated to start in Spring 2026.