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FAQs

The development of a Masterplan Framework has been a collaborative process, including stakeholder discussion and public consultation alongside technical assessments. It proposes:

  • Around 3,000 mixed tenure homes, comprising 30% affordable housing
  • A vibrant Local Centre in the north
  • A secondary hub to the south, integrating with the Local Wildlife Site
  • A main street, connecting destination points across the site
  • Access gateways - creating a sense of arrival and connection
  • The ‘Greenway’ – a green corridor for people and nature to thrive
  • An integrated walking and cycling network
  • Open green spaces, in and around the edge of the site
  • Large play areas and natural play opportunities
  • A new sports pitch on site and upgrades to existing local facilities
  • Sustainable urban drainage networks
  • Primary school and early years provision
  • Health care provision
  • Key heritage features, celebrating local history

Find out more about the team bringing forward the plans here.

  • Project initiation and baseline studies: October 2024 to March 2025
  • Early masterplan approaches consultation: April 2025
  • Masterplan Framework consultation: 3rd – 24th November 2025
  • Masterplan Framework submitted for council adoption: Winter 2025

Local Centre: A Local Centre will be located to the north, where the development area is largest. This provides an opportunity for it to feel part of both new and existing communities. Currently, facilities are limited in this area, so it will be easy to navigate and support everyday needs.

Secondary Hub: A secondary hub will be located to the south, integrating with the Local Wildlife Site and Clock Face Country Park and establishing a clear gateway into the garden village from Gorsey Lane. The secondary hub will provide pedestrian and cycle links to on-site destinations and the surrounding area.

The exact mix of non-residential infrastructure required is still being defined. However, our assessments so far include:

Education: Up to 3-form entry (3FE) primary school and early years provision on site, situated in the Local Centre to the north. Off-site requirements include a 2-form-entry secondary school and SEND provision.

Play: Alongside a network of open green spaces, a large play area will be located to the north of the site within the Local Centre. Natural play opportunities will also be located to the south of the site within the secondary hub.

Healthcare: The council are working closely with the NHS, who are exploring all viable options and forms of mitigation to ensure patients’ needs are met. The masterplan allows for health care provision to be delivered on site, situated within the Local Centre to the north.

Sports: A new on-site pitch will be located near to existing sports facilities, offering the potential for integrated use. Several further outdoor grass sports pitches and indoor sports facilities will be delivered off-site, providing opportunities to improve spaces such as King George V Playing Fields in Sutton Manor.

Community spaces: Opportunities are being explored to deliver a flexible community space within the Local Centre or close by, in line with the Bold Forest Area Action Plan, in addition to community spaces within the Secondary Hub.

Amenities: A mix of retail, food and beverage, leisure and recreation, small employment and co-working spaces, alongside a mobility hub will be provided across key locations on site.

The Masterplan Framework proposes to deliver around 3,000 new homes in a range of sizes and tenures, including at least 30% affordable housing across the site.

Low Density: Family housing focused on the southern edge of the site, fronting onto Gorsey Lane.

Medium Density: Focused on northern parts of the site, complementing surrounding homes.

High Density: Within proximity to the Local Centre and Secondary Hub, with potential for apartment living.

Elderly Living: Complementing the Local Centre and its multi-functional uses.

The Masterplan Framework proposes to deliver around 3,000 new homes in a range of sizes and tenures, including at least 30% affordable housing across the site.

Main street: New homes and Local Centre uses will be connected by a single main street, a key connection route extending from Reginald Road / Bold Road in the north to Gorsey Lane in the south, Clock Face Country Park and beyond.

Primary access: 2 main ‘gateways’ into the site will be located at Reginald Road / Helena Road (north) and Gorsey Lane (south).

High Density: Areas of high density will be located near facilities such as St Helens Junction Station and the local centre which will reduce the number of vehicular trips these residents need to take.

Secondary access: Additional access points will run throughout the site to ensure connectivity both within the site and to the surrounding area.

Active travel: A green corridor through the site will combine with the main street to promote active travel. This includes walking and cycling, with strong connectivity to existing neighbourhoods, the Secondary Hub and Local Centre.

Wider improvements: The Masterplan Framework will seek financial contributions to address several priority road improvements. This includes roads with current safety risks, active travel routes that connect the site to local facilities, as well as strategic locations linked with the M62 and bus network.

An indicative Phasing Strategy has been produced to illustrate how the development could come forward over time. Early stages of delivery will provide contributions to support interim community needs, including health-care provision.

Following delivery of phase 2, infrastructure will be in place for future phases to come forward suitably.

Phase 1 - development of new access points to create a sense of arrival, alongside core elements of the Main Street and Greenway, to begin unlocking the wider site.

Phase 2 - delivery of the Local Centre to provide early community facilities and achieving full connectivity through the site, unlocking future phases.

Both phases will be delivered alongside housing.

Bold Forest Garden Village is landscape-led, meaning natural features and sustainability is at the heart of the development.

Retained planting: Where possible, plans will maximise the retention of all natural features, like trees and shrubs. This provides an opportunity to use them in public open spaces, alongside new planting.

Habitats: Wildlife corridors will provide natural spaces for habitats to thrive by:

  • Supporting more native trees, hedges, and shrubs;
  • Protecting species such as bats, hedgehogs, and swifts; and
  • Using wildlife-friendly lighting to reduce the impact on nocturnal animals.

Flooding: A sustainable urban drainage strategy will ensure an efficient, maintainable drainage network is in place. This will respond to the constraints of the site and current flooding issues by alleviating flood risk and managing stormwater to provide biodiversity benefits. The strategy will make sure that no development is planned in surface water flow pathways.

Local wildlife site: Plans will enhance connections and integration with the existing local wildlife site, including integration with a vibrant secondary community hub, incorporating the sustainable drainage network and linking key pedestrian and cycle routes.

Community growing: Among the site's generous green spaces, community growing is a key garden village principle. We’re exploring how land near to Crawford Street could be used as a potential allotment space.

Heritage: As part of the area’s rich history, The Battery Cob will be retained and incorporated as a heritage feature. We also aim to incorporate additional heritage features that strengthen the site’s identity and its connection to the wider Bold Forest Park.

The Masterplan Framework consultation is open from Monday 3rd November 2025 until Monday 24th November 2025. There are several ways you can put your views forward:

  • Community Events: Join us at our community drop-in events, where you can discover more about the Masterplan Framework, meet the team and put your views forward.

    Clock Face Miners Recreation - Tuesday 11th November 2025, 1pm - 7pm
    (Clock Face Miners Club, St Helens, WA9 4XL)

    Clock Face Labour Club - Saturday 15th November 2025, 11am – 4pm
    (469A Clock Face Road, St Helens, WA9 4TZ)
  • Write to us: You can write to the project team or if you have a printed feedback form, send it by post to: Bold Forest consultation, FREEPOST RUCJ-HCBA-JGGX, Social, Huckletree, The Express Building, 9 Great Ancoats Street, M4 5AD