Plans have been formally lodged to convert a prominent vacant retail unit in St Helens into a new self-storage facility, promising to bring employment and revitalise a site left empty for years.
Transforming a Long-Term Vacancy
Storage Giant Ltd has submitted a full planning application to St Helens Council, seeking a change of use for the former Bargain Buys warehouse off Lowe Street. The discount retailer closed its doors in June 2018 following the collapse of its parent company, Poundworld, and the building has remained unoccupied ever since.
A planning statement prepared for the company acknowledges the site's current poor state, describing it as a "visually untidy feature" due to peeling building exteriors, debris in the car park, and overgrown scrubland. The proposal aims to directly address this blight.
Details of the Proposed Development
The scheme involves a significant overhaul of the existing 930 sq m detached retail warehouse and its car park. Key elements of the application include:
- Changing the building's use to a self-storage facility with ancillary office space.
- Constructing new front and side extensions to increase the total floorspace to 1,630 sq m.
- Redesigning the building's shape into a more dynamic form.
- Installing a 2.2-metre-high boundary fence, an external refuse store, and four electric vehicle charging points.
- Completely recladding the building with high-quality materials and applying Storage Giant's corporate branding.
Promised Benefits for St Helens
The application heavily emphasises the community and economic benefits of the project. If approved, it would mark Storage Giant's first presence in the North West region.
The planning statement vows the development will "create employment opportunities for the local community" and enable the "regeneration of a long-term vacant site." By bringing a dormant commercial property back into active use, the company argues it will enhance the local streetscene and provide a useful service to residents and businesses.
The final decision now rests with the local planning authority, which will assess the proposal against local development plans and policies.
