Global real estate advisor, Avison Young, has been appointed by St Helens Borough Council to lead on the production of a Masterplan Framework for Bold Forest Garden Village, which has the potential to circa 3,000 new homes.

Encompassing 132.86 ha and located 2.5 miles south of St Helens town centre, the Bold Forest Garden Village site is the largest housing allocation not only in the borough’s Local Plan, but also within the wider Liverpool City Region.

Avison Young are actively engaged with landowners, stakeholders and members of the community to develop a single comprehensive Masterplan Framework covering the whole of the Bold Forest Garden Village site to support its coordinated development and the highest standards of planning and design.

Working in collaboration with Avison Young as part of the wider design team are Optimised Environments, SLR, Useful Projects, Social and SEC Newgate. St Helens Borough Council have engaged Walker Sime’s Regeneration Delivery function to support management of the commission.

Approval of the masterplan framework is scheduled for Autumn 2025.

Lisa Harris, Executive Director of Place Services at St Helens Borough Council, said:
“Through balanced regeneration and sustainable growth, the borough is creating a range of attractive, healthy, safe, inclusive and accessible places in which to invest, visit, work and make St Helens a residential destination of choice.

“Bold Forest Garden Village will be a landscape-led development that optimises its unique location with the outstanding Bold Forest Park Area, creating a new housing market demand and providing complementary opportunities for our existing communities of Bold, Clock Face, Sutton and beyond.

“Avison Young and the wider design team have demonstrated their ability and passion to realise our vision for Bold Forest Garden Village via collaborative production of an ambitious and viable Masterplan Framework over the coming months.

“St Helens Borough Council also holds two significant land parcels within the site allocation, which will assist delivery and present future investment opportunities for developers who share our ambitions for the highest standards of placemaking and sustainable development.”

Nicola Rigby, Principal at Avison Young and delivery and planning lead on the project, said:
“As the largest housing allocation in St Helens and the City Region, Bold Forest Garden Village will make a significant contribution towards economic growth and tackling the housing crisis.

“However, our collective vision for Bold Forest Garden Village is much more than a housing delivery programme as we want existing and future communities to benefit from diverse environments and green spaces that enhance health and wellbeing.

“Avison Young has brought together a select design team to help St Helens Borough Council and stakeholders to realise the incredible opportunity that is presented by the Bold Forest Garden Village site. We have made a positive start to this important commission and look forward to providing regular updates throughout.”