We are delighted to report that we have submitted a planning application to start the process of the restoration of our historic bottle-making shop.
Restoring the bottle shop was among several projects to receive funding from the St Helens Town Deal Board, which succeeded in securing £25 million for the town centre from the Governments Towns Fund initiative.
Our planning application contains a design and access statement which states: “The Trust’s first priority is to preserve the building, as a record of the town’s manufacturing past, and to create a new legacy use as a sign of the town’s future”.
It further states that: “the funds will be used to undertake the urgent and immediate work needed to arrest further deterioration of the no.7 Bottle Shop, and to begin to reverse the decline so as to create the framework for a functioning building.”
This first phase will deliver emergency/ essential works to stabilise the structure, enabling works to allow access and services and a first phase of sensitive repair and restoration works.
It adds: “The Trust’s second objective is to animate the building in a way that will bring benefit to our local community.”
As stated on our application, it is our intention to advance the education of the public in the historical, architectural and industrial significance of the building and its impact on the fortunes of our Town. A key component of the project is to use the process of stabilisation, conservation, and repair to train local people in traditional construction techniques.
The planning application is on a standard consultation to the public until Thursday, August 10 and a determination deadline has been set for September 8.
We wait, with fingers crossed for a successful outcome and an October start on site.
