Planning authority
St Helens Council
Adopted plan on record; HDT 118%.
Adopted plan
| Plan | St Helens Borough Local Plan up to 2037 |
| Adopted | Date not recorded |
| Plan period | 2021–2037 |
| Housing requirement | 10,206 homes |
| Council's page | The adopted plan |
Plan in preparation
No plan in preparation on record.
From the national planning data platform, which can lag behind the council. Known gaps
Housing Delivery Test
| Measurement | 118% (2025) |
Applications
| Period | July 2025 to June 2026 |
| Received | 466 |
| Decided | 455 |
| Granted | 427 (94%; England 87%) |
| Refused | 28 |
| Major applications decided | 21, of which 18 granted |
| Quarter | Received | Decided | Granted | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July to September 2025 | 109 | 119 | 113 | 6 |
| October to December 2025 | 114 | 110 | 100 | 10 |
| January to March 2026 | 131 | 117 | 113 | 4 |
| April to June 2026 | 112 | 109 | 101 | 8 |
Appeals
| Decided | 1 September 2021 to 28 August 2026 |
| Planning appeals | 32: 4 allowed, 0 split, 28 dismissed |
| Householder appeals | 29: 9 allowed, 2 split, 18 dismissed |
| Allowed in full or in part | 25% (England 32%) |
Latest planning appeals
| Decided | Site | Development | Procedure | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 July 2026 | Land at Watery Lane, Sutton, ST. HELENS, WA9 3GD Application P/2025/0615/FUL | Unknown | Hearing | Dismissed |
| 3 June 2026 | 8 Hardshaw Street, St Helens, WA10 1RE Application P/2025/0286/FUL | Minor offices/R&D/light industry | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 30 January 2026 | Signature House Ltd, Signature House 232A Rainhill Road, Rainhill, PRESCOT, L35 4LD Application P/2024/0536/FUL | Change of use | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 19 November 2025 | Caprinos Pizza, 14 North Road, ST. HELENS, WA10 2TL Application P/2025/0180/FUL | Minor retail and services | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 22 August 2025 | Rear of 99-101 Greenfield Road, Dentons Green, St helens , Merseyside , WA10 6SH Application P/2024/0540/FUL | Minor retail and services | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 6 August 2025 | Land South of 33 Mill Lane, Bold Heath , St Helens , WA8 3UU Application P/2025/0081/PIP | Minor Dwellings | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 5 August 2025 | Newton le Willows Railway Station, Mill Lane, St Helens, WA12 9SF Application P/2024/0430/TELPA | Minor retail and services | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 5 August 2025 | 18 Ireland Road, Haydock, WA11 0SH Application P/2024/0453/FUL | Change of use | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 16 July 2025 | PAVEMENT OUTSIDE Subway, 20 Bridge Street, ST. HELENS, WA10 1NW Application P/2024/0580/FUL | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 14 July 2025 | 66 Fleet Lane, St Helens, Merseyside , WA9 1SX Application P/2023/0450/FUL | Change of use | Written Representations | Dismissed |
Each outcome links to the case on the Planning Inspectorate's site, where the decision letter is published.
Changes recorded
- 17 October 2026 Records added late or corrected (not new this week): adopted plan now shown as St Helens Borough Local Plan up to 2037 (date of adoption not recorded)