Planning permission granted for St Helens glass innovation centre

St Helens Borough Council Planning Committee has granted planning permission for the £54M global glass research and innovation facility located at Saints Retail Park.

The planning application was prepared and submitted by developer and landowner Network Space, on behalf of not-for-profit research and technology organisation Glass Futures, to build the 14,800m² Global Centre of Excellence.

The facility will be used to deliver industry and government backed R&D projects focused on decarbonising glass production, and also providing a platform for industry to test and trial their own commercial ideas on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually.

Bowmer + Kirkland, has been appointed to build the facility following an open procurement process through the North West Construction Hub. Work is expected to begin on site in July this year and will complete by December 2022.

“We are delighted to have successfully secured planning permission for such a high profile and transformational project for St Helens and the Liverpool City Region. The consent is another major milestone in transforming the former United Glassworks site into a global hub for research, while once more positioning St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and sustainable glass manufacturing. 

“Our team and the partnership that we have formed has worked tirelessly in bringing the concept to life and converting it into a deliverable scheme. We hope to announce further progress in the coming months,” said Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space.