The tiny UK town once a mining village now set for major £150m boost

A town in West Lancashire, is preparing for a major transformation with a £150 million redevelopment project recently approved. The project is set to bring significant changes to Skelmersdale with the construction of 400 new homes, a new high street, and upgraded public spaces. The redevelopment, led by West Lancashire Borough Council and its development company Tawd Valley Developments Limited, will focus on several key sites in the town centre.

The plans include building a new leisure hub, 28,000 square feet of commercial space for shops and restaurants, and improved transport links, such as relocating the bus station to street level. The redevelopment will also feature upgrades to local amenities like the town's amphitheatre, library modernisation, and enhancements to Tawd Valley Park.

The project was approved in May 2025 following a six-week consultation.

Although new housing plays a major role in the Masterplan, public feedback during the consultation raised concerns about whether local infrastructure including healthcare, schools, and transport could cope with the growth.

In response to community feedback, several adjustments were made to the plans, including better transport access, moving the Concourse Bus Station to street level, increased funding for improvements to Tawd Valley Park, and reducing the number of homes in the Yewdale Residential Scheme.

Councillor Melissa Parlour, lead member for Economic Regeneration and Green Growth at West Lancashire Borough Council, said: "The Masterplan is a realistic and deliverable plan that puts residents' priorities at the centre. It supports our strategic goals while responding to what we've heard from the community.

"A huge amount of work has gone into ensuring the Masterplan aligns with the Council's corporate priorities, the emerging Economic Development Strategy and the Local Plan, supporting investment, job creation and sustainable growth.

"And with TVD at the helm, we can ensure residents' interests remain at the heart of delivery while staying in control of the important decisions."

The council confirmed that the work will be phased over the next 10 to 15 years to ensure that the development does not overwhelm local schools, healthcare, or transport services.

Skelmersdale has grown from a small mining village into a community of around 40,000 residents according to the latest census. The town was designated as a new town in 1961 as part of a wider effort to ease housing pressure in nearby Liverpool.