Brownfield Land Register

Local planning authorities are required by the government to prepare and publish a Brownfield Land Register ('the Register'). The first Register was published in December 2017. The Register has now been updated and provides details of previously developed sites (brownfield) that are available and potentially suitable for residential development.

The preparation of the Brownfield Land Register is governed by the Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017 and the government has published a series of frequently asked questions to help people understand their purpose and how they will operate.

The Register is intended to help developers identify suitable sites quickly, speeding up the construction of new homes and maximising the number of new homes built on suitable and available brownfield sites.

The Register contains a standard set of information, prescribed by the government, that will be kept up-to-date, and made publicly available, to help provide certainty for developers and communities and encourage investment in local areas. The Register will also act as a vehicle for granting permission in principle (PiP) on suitable sites. It should also be noted that some of the sites are part of a larger deliverable site that contains greenfield land; therefore it is strongly recommended that the 2017 SHLAA is also reviewed alongside the Register.

The Register has two parts to it:

• Part 1 of the Register comprises of all brownfield sites that the council has assessed against a set criteria, which are considered appropriate for residential development (including sites with and without planning consent and PiP);

• Part 2 of the Register is a continuation of Part 1 for sites that the council has granted PiP for housing-led development. PiP will establish the fundamental principles of development in terms of the use, location and amount of development. However, planning permission is not granted until Technical Details Consent is applied for and approved by the council.

2018 - Brownfield Land Register (CSV format)

2018 - Brownfield Land - Large Plan

2017 - Brownfield Land Register (CSV format)

2017 - Brownfield Land - Large Plan 

Previously Developed Land

The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) is, as of 1 December 2008, responsible for the collection and dissemination of data pertaining to Previously Developed Land (PDL) across England. This data was previously collected and managed by the National Land Use Database (NLUD) partnership (comprising Communities and Local Government and the HCA’s forerunner, EnPar - English Partnerships).

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is one of the key evidence base studies for the new St. Helens Local Plan providing an assessment of how much land is potentially available for housing in the urban areas of the Borough. It forms the basis for understanding the capacity of the Borough’s existing urban areas to accommodate new housing development.

In line with national guidance the SHLAA establishes realistic assumptions about the availability, suitability and likely economic viability of land to meet the identified need for housing over the Local Plan period. The SHLAA does not allocate any specific sites or suggest that planning permission be given on them. It is for the emerging Local Plan to decide where new housing should be located.

2017 SHLAA

This is the sixth SHLAA to be prepared for St. Helens, and updates the previous 2016 SHLAA which comprehensively reviewed all conclusions previously reached for sites already within the SHLAA process and assessed new sites. All new sites submitted to the Council by 31st March 2017 have been considered in this update and conclusions updated on existing sites where new information has come to light.

The 2017 SHLAA and accompanying Developability and Large Sites with Planning Permission Plans are available to view and download below:

• St. Helens Council - Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2017 Update
• St. Helens Council - Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2017 Developability Plan
• St. Helens Council – Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2017 Large Sites With Planning Permission Plan

Sites not submitted in time for consideration by the 2017 SHLAA will be saved for the next SHLAA.

2016 SHLAA and NLUD

A plan has been prepared showing those sites identified in the '2016 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)' along with other previously developed land identified through the 'St.Helens National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land (NLUD-PDL) Annual Survey 2011-2012'. This plan, with accompanying site reference tables, is available to view and download below.

• 2016 SHLAA and 2012 NLUD Sites Plan
• Accompanying Site Reference Tables

Historic NLUD-PDL surveys for St. Helens, are available under the 'Previously Developed Land' drop down section.

Forms

The Call for Sites form and Guidance Note are available to download below. 

• Call for Sites Form
• Call for Sites Guidance Note

Call For Sites Submissions

Since 2013, as well as suggestions for housing sites in built up areas, we have also accepted suggestions for other uses such as employment, retail, leisure and other significant development, including sites in the Green Belt, and suggestions for sites that should be protected from development. These suggestions are currently being considered as we prepare the new Local Plan.

If you have previously submitted a site for consideration during previous Call for Sites consultations then there is no need to resubmit your site unless you have or additional information to provide.

A map showing the locations of sites submitted as part of Calls for Sites up to 2016 is available to view below. This consolidates all previous submissions under one reference number. Details of individual submissions (with any personal information redacted) are available on request. Please contact the Planning Policy Team.

• Call for Sites Plan 2008-2016 (Consolidated)

If you have any further questions please contact us.

A number of housing-related reports, documents and background studies have been undertaken and used to inform the Local Plan. The most recent study is the Mid-Mersey Strategic Housing Market Assessment, published in 2016.

• Mid Mersey Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2016
• Merseyside and West Lancashire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2015
• Mid-Mersey Strategic Housing Market Assessment Report for St.Helens Council - October 2011
• St.Helens Housing Land Position Statement 2003-2013
• St. Helens Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2016
• St. Helens Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2017

 An update report to the Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2016 has been produced and was published in January 2019. See the following document:

• Strategic Housing Market Assessment Update Report January 2019

The St.Helens Borough Local Plan Submission Draft Green Belt Review 2018 can be viewed and downloaded below:

• The Green Belt Review 2018 Main Report: Chapter 1-5; Chapter 6 Part 1; Chapter 6 Part 2

•  The Green Belt Review 2018 Appendices:
  • Appendix A - Parcel and sub-parcel distribution maps: North Map; South Map; East Map; West Map
  • Appendix B - Overall scores of parcels and sub-parcels
  • Appendix C - Stage 1B proformas; Purposes of Green Belt: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6
  • Appendix D - Stage 2A proformas; Assessment of prohibitive constraints
  • Appendix E - Map showing all parcels and sub-parcels discounted at stages 1B and 2A
  • Appendix F - Template proforma used at stage 2B
  • Appendix G - Notional capacity assumptions
  • Appendix H - Agricultural Land Classification (ALC)
  • Appendix I - Green Belt anomalies
  • Appendix J - List of consequential changes
  • Appendix K - Reference numbers for proposed sites
  • Appendix L - Proposed New Green Belt boundary

The St.Helens Local Plan Preferred Options Draft Green Belt Review 2016 can be viewed and downloaded below:

• St Helens Draft Green Belt Review 2016 -  Main Report

• Draft Green Belt Appendices:
  • Appendix 1 - Map of combined stage 1 Green Belt parcels assessment 
  • Appendix 2 - Data of combined stage 1 Green Belt parcels assessment 
  • Appendix 3 - Site specific assessment - Sites screened out at Green Belt Stage 2
  • Appendix 4 - Green Belt stage 3 & 4 sites carried forward
  • Appendix 5 - Map showing locations of proposed Green Belt changes
  • Appendix 6 - Detailed Plans for proposed Green Belt changes
  • Appendix 7 - Promoted Green Belt Sites

A number of Employment and Economic reports, documents and background studies have been undertaken and used to inform the Local Plan. The most recent studies that have been prepared are the St Helens Allocations Local Plan Economic Evidence Base Paper 2015 and the St Helens Employment Land Needs Study 2015.

• St. Helens Employment Land Needs Study October 2015
• St. Helens Allocations Local Plan Evidence Base Paper September 2015
• St. Helens Economic Land Position Statement 2009
• St. Helens Employment Land and Premises Study May 2011: Final Report
• St. Helens Employment Land and Premises Study May 2011: Appendix 1
• St. Helens Employment Land and Premises Study May 2011: Appendices 2-10
• Review of Employment Land in St. Helens to 2027, September 2011
  

A addendum report to the St Helens Employment Land Need Study (October 2015) has been produced and was published in January 2019. See the following document:

• St Helens Employment Land Needs Assessment – Addendum Report January 2019

2017 Retail & Leisure Study 

A Retail & Leisure Study undertaken by WYG to inform the preparation of the Local Plan is available below with supporting appendices:

• St Helens Retail and Leisure Study May 2017 (Published Jan 2018)

Appendices

• Appendix 1 - Study Area Plan
• Appendix 2 - Household Survey Results
• Appendix 3 - In-Street Survey Results
• Appendix 4 - St Helens Town Centre Health Check
• Appendix 5 - Earlestown Town Centre Health Check
• Appendix 6 - Rainhill and Thatto Heath District Centres Health checks
• Appendix 7 - Local Centre Health checks
• Appendix 8 - Quantitative Need for Additional Floorspace in St Helens
• Appendix 9 - Spatial Distribution of Centres

Previous Studies

Previous Retail and Town Centre Uses related reports, documents and background studies are available below: 

• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study - Final Report January 2012
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 1 - St Helens Catchment
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 2 - Household Survey
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 3 - On-Street Survey
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 4 - Business Surveys
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 5 - Health Check Assessments
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 6 - Quantitative Capacity Tables
• St Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 7 - Earlestown Proposed Primary Shopping Area
• St Helens Local Centre Study 2006 - Main Report
• St Helens Local Centre Study 2006 - Appendices

Open Space, Sports and Recreation Assessment (OSSRA) 2016

Documents making up the St Helens Open Space, Sports and Recreation Assessment (OSSRA) 2016, prepared by Knight, Kavanagh & Page, are available to view and download below.

• St Helens Indoor and Built Sports Facilities Needs Assessment June 2016
• St Helens Indoor and Built Sports Facilities Needs Assessment June 2016 - Golf Course Addendum
• St Helens Open Space Assessment June 2016
• St Helens Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment Report February 2016
• St Helens Playing Pitch Strategy & Action Plan July 2016

At Cabinet on 24 August 2016, members resolved to approve the adoption by the Council of the 2016 Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan and to endorse both the Playing Pitch Strategy and Playing Pitch Assessment as supporting evidence for the preparation of the Local Plan. To view and download the Cabinet documents please see the 24th August Cabinet Agenda webpage.

Open Space Study 2006 

The St Helens Open Space Space Study 2006 prepared by PMP is available to view and download below.

• St Helens Open Space Study 2006

Greenways

A review into the St Helens Greenway network and the planning policy needed to support the protection of the network is available to view and download below.

• St Helens Greenway Policy Review - Final Report February 2015

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

The St. Helens Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2014 was prepared by JBA Consulting in consultation with the Environment Agency.

The purpose of the SFRA is to provide up-to-date information on flood risk to help inform decisions made on planning applications, options for the allocation of land in the Council’s emerging Allocations Local Plan and the preparation of policies for the flood risk management.

The St. Helens SFRA Report consists of a combined Level 1 SFRA and a Level 2 SFRA. The Level 1 element of the Report updates the previous Level 1 SFRA that was prepared in 2009 and assesses sources of flood risk across the Borough. The Level 2 element of the Report includes detailed site assessments for potential development locations in the Borough and takes into account the presence of flood defences.

The SFRA should be used to inform the preparation of the Sequential Test and the Exception Test at the planning application stage.

The various elements of the SFRA can be downloaded by clicking on the links below. A User Guide has been prepared which provides specific guidance on how the SFRA should be used by all involved in the development planning process. Mapping is available in relation to flood risk zones, surface water flooding, historical flooding and flood risk management.

• St. Helens Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment September 2014
• St. Helens Council SFRA - User Guide Report
• Appendix A Potential Development Sites Map
• Appendix A Flood Zones Index Map
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps A-E
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps F-H
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps I-K
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps L-N
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Index Map
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps A-E
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps F-I
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps J-L
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps M-P
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps Q-T
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps U-W
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Index Map
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps A-E
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps F-I
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps J-M
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps N-P
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps Q-T
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps U-W
• Appendix A Areas Susceptible to Ground Water Flooding
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Index Plan
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans A-D
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans H-J
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans E-G
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans K-M
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans N-O
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Index Map
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps A-E
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps F-I
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps J-L
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps M-O
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps P- R
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps S-U
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps V-W
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Risk Index Map
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps A-D
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps E-G
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps H-J
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps K-L
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps M-O
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps P-Q
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps R-T
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps U-W
• Appendix B Development Site Assessment Spreadsheet
• Appendix C Development Sites at Significant Surface Water Risk
• Appendix C Development Sites at Significant Surface Water Risk Site Maps
• Appendix D Flood Zones and Vulnerability Classifications Compatibility
• Appendix E Critical Drainage Area Assessment

Documents relating to the St Helens Landscape Character Assessment January 2006, prepared by Land Use Consultants, can be viewed and downloaded below.

• St Helens Borough Landscape Character Assessment January 2006
• Figure 1 - Site Location
• Figure 2 - Landform
• Figure 3 - Hydrology
• Figure 4 - Historical Development 
• Figure 5 - Character Map of England, Landscape Character Types
• Figure 6 - Topographic Setting
• Figure 7 - Key Visual Gateways
• Figure 8 - Landscape Character Types and Areas
• Figure 9 - Landscape and Townscape Character Areas
• Figure 10 - Landscape Sensitivity
• Figure 11 - Visual Sensitivity
• Figure 12 - Landscape Strategy
• Figure 13 - Woodland Recommendations 
• Figure 14 - Landscape Framework for Change, Constraints and Opportunities 
• Figure 15 - Landscape Policy

Documents relating to the Phase 1 Habitats Survey can be viewed and downloaded below:

• Report on the Digital Capture of St Helens 1999/2000 Phase 1 Habitat Survey
• Phase 1 Survey Habitat Classification, Hierarchical Alphanumerical Reference Codes and Mapping Colours
• Phase 1 Habitat Survey 2000 Map

Minerals

• The Evidence Base for Minerals Planning in Merseyside Final Report August 2008
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Halton, and Warrington Joint Local Aggregate Assessment December 2015 
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Halton, and Warrington Joint Local Aggregate Assessment December 2016

Waste

To view and download documents relating to waste planning on Merseyside, including the Joint Waste Local Plan 2013, please see the webpages of the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS). 

A study has been conducted by AECOM and Cushman & Wakefield on behalf of St Helens Council to investigate the feasibility of delivery options for a road and rail-linked logistics development on land at the former Parkside colliery site. The study is available to view and download via the link below.

• Parkside Logistics and Rail Freight Interchange Study August 2016
• Parkside West Rail Design and Noise and Acoustics Study April 2017

The Liverpool City Region SHELMA documents can be viewed and downloaded below:

LCR Strategic Housing & Employment Land Market Assessment (SHELMA) Executive Summary (March 2018)　

LCR Strategic Housing & Employment Land Market Assessment (SHELMA) (March 2018)　

LCR Strategic Housing & Employment Land Market Assessment Appendices (March 2018)

LCR SHELMA Large Scale B8 Site Supply Assessment (June 2018)

LCR SHELMA Areas of Search Assessment (August 2019)

Liverpool City Region Areas of Search Assessment Addendum Sheet (November 2019)

The Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) documents can be viewed and downloaded below:

• Transport Impact Assessment: Local Model Validation Report;
• Transport Impact Assessment: Main Report; Appendix A;
• Sustainable Transport Impact Assessment Report; Appendix A; Appendix B; Appendix C; Appendix D; 
• Transport Impact Assessment: Forecasting Report (June 2018).

Authority Monitoring Report (AMR)

Monitoring Reports assess how Local Plan policies are being implemented and if they are working successfully.

• Annual Monitoring Report 2018 
• Annual Monitoring Report 2011

The Liverpool City Region Statement of Common Ground document can be viewed and downloaded below:

• Liverpool City Region Spatial Planning Statement of Common Ground, October 2019