Tawd Valley Developments pushes on with £200m transformation of Skelmersdale town centre following approval of masterplan which includes a new Merseyrail station. Tony McDonough reports

Tawd Valley Developments (TVD) says it has spoken to almost 30 potential funders and developers as it secures approval for its £200m Skelmersdale town centre masterplan.

A wholly owned development arm of West Lancashire Council, TVD says it is now ready to take a “major step”. This masterplan envisages 550,000 sq ft of new space including 600 new homes, leisure and cultural facilities, and 28,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Hopes also remain high that the Merseyrail network can be eventually extended to Skelmersdale. Following the closure of its station in 1956 the town is now one of the most populous areas of the country without a rail connection.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram is keen to put Skelmersdale on the Merseyrail map with a line from Headbolt Lane station at Kirkby. However, the Government turned down the plan in 2022 and a new case to Whitehall would have to be made.

TVD has also secured approval to press on with plans for a new £14m ‘eco-friendly’ business park at White Moss Business Park just off the M58. This will deliver 45 units ranging from 1,600 sq ft to around 3,400 sq ft.

Work on the scheme, being undertaken by Caddick Construction, is due to start in June and complete in phases up to December 2026.

Speaking about the masterplan approval, TVD’s managing director Mark Kitts, said: “This is a big step forward for our business, enabling us to gear up to manage much larger projects as we seek to build on the very positive growth in the borough’s economy.”

He believes the ambitious plans for Skelmersdale town centre are “eminently achievable” following an extensive process of soft market testing.

Mark added: “We have spoken to almost 30 potential development and funding partners about our ambitions and, in addition to benefiting from some extremely useful advice and insights, got a clear view of the market’s appetite for investing in the town.

“I’m very encouraged indeed and am relishing discussions with more potential partners at UKREiiF, as we want all eyes on Skelmersdale.”

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Council leader Yvonne Gagen added: “This masterplan is not just ambitious, it’s practical, deliverable and rooted in what matters most to our residents. 

“It reflects the priorities we’ve consistently heard from our communities and ensures we’re making the right choices for the future of our borough.

The masterplan was devised by Tetra Tech and Lambert Smith Hampton. Also supporting the scheme is Hive Land and Planning, which has provided project delivery and funding advice.