FAQs

The draft Masterplan aims to put together a plan that will transform the Town Centre and surrounding area into a prosperous, vibrant, attractive and safer destination over the next few years. The plan is likely to take between 10 and 15 years to deliver.

You can complete the survey online via our engagement platform Your Voice West Lancashire or pop along to one of our in person events at the Concourse Shopping Centre:

• Wednesday 13th November between 1pm and 5pm
• Thursday 14th November between 3pm and 6pm
• Friday 15th November between 1pm and 5pm
• Saturday 17th November between 11am and 4pm 

The funding arrangements will come together over a few years from a range of both private sector and public sector sources. The costs of the proposals are in the region of £150 million.

• Most of the funding for the proposed masterplan will be from the private sector. 
• It is expected that some of the projects proposed such as the Visitor Centre, Business Incubator and Train Station will require funding from central Government 
• Some of the affordable housing, roads and infrastructure will require funding support from the Governments home building and regeneration agency Homes England. 
• West Lancashire Borough Council may consider investing in some of the affordable housing planned to complement its existing housing stock. 
• Following approval of the masterplan discussions with potential funding partners will take place and funding from both public and private sector partners is subject to financial decision making of those organisations. 
• Private sector investment is important as the value created from all developments needs to be reinvested into the town centre.

• There is strong evidence that there is demand for an increase in housing and the Glenburn site provides a good opportunity to do that close to the town centre.
• There needs to be a new mix of affordable and desirable homes for existing and new residents wishing to live in Skelmersdale.
• The housing will create some private investment, and the value created from the developments needs to be reinvested into the town centre and Tawd Valley Park public spaces. 
• There is also a new Rail station proposed for the Glenburn site which would occupy the easterly edge of the site.

• The proposals in the masterplan cover the period 2025 up until 2040. 
• The timing of developments coming forward will depend upon a range of organisations getting involved and committing funding to the scheme.
• The timing of developments coming forward will also depend on planning permissions being granted. 
• If the masterplan is approved, early activity will include a plan for phasing of all the projects to determine what projects are delivered and when.  

• The intention is to create a business incubation centre on the town centre high street providing a new small business facility.
• It will look to provide managed workspace for small businesses
• It will look to support people into work and provide essential business skills and coaching
• To be located close to West Lancashire College and encouraging apprenticeships and work placements 
• The incubator could also support college leavers in setting up their own business in the town centre. The enabling of business networking would be a valuable resource for all users. 
• Some of the housing schemes propose ground floor business uses.
• Through an improved town centre it is anticipated the Concourse shopping centre will benefit with more business occupying space. 

• The refurbished library could offer enhanced educational uses which could benefit young people.
• The draft masterplan involves development of a new visitor centre for the Tawd Valley Park. 
• The visitor centre could host education, leisure and recreation activities and business.  
• Refurbishment of the amphitheatre space to improve the existing outdoor facility as a venue for more events
• The detail of each project will emerge in due course but activities for children and young people will feature in the brief for each scheme. 

The Concourse will remain open; the aim of the plan is to work with the owners of the Concourse to upgrade the Concourse on the west side, to improve the bus station, the access to the shops and improve the environment. 

It is anticipated that a decision will be made by West Lancashire Borough Council in February 2025, subject to the feedback from and outcome of the public consultation. 

There are no plans to change the Youth Zone, it will remain as it is.

The plans are to improve the bus station the detail of which will be subject to discussions between the bus authorities and the owners of the Concourse.  

• Yes, there is no plan to introduce charging on the Council owned retail car park. 
• There will be ample car parking provision for town centre new residents with one space per apartment.
• There will be ample car parking for visitors to the town centre.

• The previous masterplan included the Tawd Valley Retail Park which is now open and trading but there is still more to do in the town centre to create a centre with varied uses including new dwellings that bring more people to live, visit and work.
• The previous masterplan wasn’t fully delivered because it relied too heavily on retail uses. 
• There is a strong evidence base that tells us the masterplan would deliver the housing and economic needs of the borough.
• The Council has worked on this new plan to create a regeneration scheme that is attractive to private developers and investors.
• There is developer interest in a number of the sites within the town centre and the time is right to bring forward new development proposals.

• The land required to deliver the masterplan is nearly all in the ownership of the WLBC and LCC
• This provides a level of control to be able to deliver the change that is needed.
• The masterplan when completed and approved will create planning certainty.
• The masterplan proposes a range of different uses, including opportunities for new commercial activity, new business creation, and new homes that will bring more people to live, visit and work.   
• The housing proposals on the Glenburn site and in the town centre could create value for reinvestment into the town centre.
• There is property market interest in the scheme from developers.
• The masterplan is costed and has been assessed with realistic public sector investment requirements clearly set out.
• If the masterplan is approved the Council will lead the development supported by Tawd Valley Developments, the Councils wholly owned development company.