Former glassworks site to be transformed into 700 new homes after 200 years of production

Over 700 homes look set to be constructed on the former location of a former industrial landmark in Merseyside, after the approval of a transformative master plan by St Helens Council.

The former Watson Street Works site in St Helens produced glass for almost two centuries and was the birthplace of the float glass manufacturing technique pioneered by Sir Alastair Pilkington, which transformed the global flat glass production industry.

Back in April 2023, Pilkington UK unveiled plans to consolidate the activity at Watson Street Works, which opened in 1826, into its premises at Greengate nearby. An upgrade to the Greengate furnace meant an extra production line could be added to inherit operations from Watson Street alongside ongoing float glass manufacturing there.

The masterplan envisions a mixed-use site hosting roughly 764 homes alongside 150,000 sqft of commercial space, as well as leisure and retail establishments alongside public realm and landscaping, reports the Liverpool Echo.

A comprehensive document on the master plan, now approved by councillors, said: "After nearly 200 years of pioneering activities, glass manufacturing at Pilkington UK’s Watson Street Works ceased in February 2024 and in one of the single biggest UK investments by Pilkington for many decades, all production and associated jobs were successfully transferred to the adjacent Greengate Works site.

"Extending to circa 30 acres of brownfield (previously developed) land located on the southern edge of St Helens town centre, Pilkington UK’s decision to cease manufacturing operations at Watson Street Works has provided a strategically important windfall opportunity to redevelop the site for the continued positive benefit of the borough, complementing the ECF St Helens town centre regeneration initiatives.

"The Watson Street site now forms an integral part of the St Helens Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Campus, which is already home to Glass Futures, SINA Medical Glass and Inovus Medical. The site is also an integral component of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone, being one of its three designated tax sites, offering financial benefits to businesses relocating and expanding in the area.

"To maximise the site’s potential contribution to the borough and to guide appropriate future development proposals, the council and Pilkington UK (assisted by other key stakeholders) have commissioned production of an aspirational masterplan for Watson Street."

Councillors greenlit the masterplan during a recent meeting, with St Helens Council asserting its commitment to collaborate with Pilkington UK and strategic partners like Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to transform the blueprint into reality.

Lisa Harris, executive director for place services at the council, said: "The masterplan will help bring the site of the former Watson Street Works back to life, continuing nearly 200 years of pioneering activity by providing exciting new regeneration opportunities for developers whilst preserving historic features on the site.

"This is extensive prime brownfield land close to St Helens town centre and will add another dimension to the development offer we have in the area as part of the St Helens Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Campus, which is already home to Glass Futures, SINA Medical Glass and Inovus Medical.

"The site is also an integral component of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone, being one of its three designated tax sites, offering financial benefits to businesses relocating and expanding in the area."

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